Under the auspices of Lebanese Army Chief Commander General Jean Kahwaji, represented by General Bassam Eid, the Committee for Coordination and Support of the Activities of Lebanese Army Martyrs' Children set up a luncheon in honor of martyrs’ families, on Sunday, January 19th , in the Central NCO Club in Fayadiyeh, attended by military, social and media figures, along with representatives of Fransabank.
Fransabank employees’ massive participation has exceeded the expected amounts, so that a decision was taken by the Bank’s management to collect all extra money as cash donations to the martyrs’ families. Total amount of LBP 15,300,000 was collected by the staff, while the Bank itself contributed with a similar additional amount to duplicate the value reaching LBP 30,600,000, as a symbolic gift to 460 children of the Lebanese Army martyrs, ranging between zero and eighteen years old.
The ceremony started with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by the speech of Mrs. Joanna Kahwaji Medlej, Head of Committee for Coordination and Support of the Activities of Lebanese Army Martyrs' Children , where she stressed that : “According to the Military Institution, sacrifice is an act of faith in Lebanon," noting that "the Committee’s success owes to the support and encouragement of the Army’s leadership as well as Lebanese people,” mentioning in particular and giving special thanks to "all Fransabank staff for their noble initiative to collect donations as a prepaid gift card given to every martyr’s child and an educational book to each family.”
In this context, Mr. Philippe el Hajj, Fransabank’s Deputy General Manager, saluted on behalf of the Bank the military martyrs: "It’s such an army with a calendar marked by heroism, and with epics soldiers whose sacrifice was never to be worthy except because they have valued life." Mr. el Hajj also mentioned in particular the martyrs’ wives who "have to take the role of both the mother and the father to raise Lebanon’s future generations."