Officers’ Club, Yerzi, 30 September 2011On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of General Kanaan's assassination, a special event was held under the patronage of the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander, General Jean Kahwagi, in the front garden of the Yerzi Officers' Club - named after General Kanaan -, to unveil a commemorative statue in his honor.
A delegation of high ranked officers headed by the Commander of the Mount Lebanon region, General Youssef Germanos, represented General Kahwagi. Were also present or represented the Commanders of the General Security Forces, the Interior Security Forces, the National Security Forces, the 5th Brigade (headed by General Kanaan at the time of his assassination), the Military school, the Fouad Chehab Academy of Command and Staff, the Military Police, the logistics Brigade and the army divisions stationed in the club's location.
General Kanaan's family members attended the ceremony, as well as Colonel Antoine Bechalaani, manager of the Officers' Club, Maître Antoine Berberi, who sculpted the statue and General Kanaan's Military School classmates.
 General Germanos represented General Kahwagi |
 Salute to the martyr |
Unveiling the statue
The ceremony started with the Army's music band welcoming General Germanos, and the playing of the Lebanese National Anthem. This was followed by a minute of silence and the presentation of arms in the memory of General Kanaan.
The Military Martyrs Anthem was then played, followed by a thanking speech by the family read by General Kanaan's brother, lawyer Emile Kanaan, and the Army's speech read by General Germanos on behalf of General Kahwagi (Read excerpts). The speeches focused on General Kanaan's remarkable qualities as an officer and as a man, and the circumstances of his assassination and martyrdom.
After the speeches General Germanos and General Kanaan's widow Mona unveiled the statue, and General Kanaan's widow and brother Emile laid a wreath of flowers in front of the statue.
The ceremony was concluded with a cocktail offered by the Army at the club, and taking photos next to the statue.
Media coverage
Lebanese Army website: Front page - News item - Online
Lebanese Army's monthly magazine 'Al Jaiish': November 2011- website version - Online
Annahar newspaper: News item
LBC website: News item - Online
 Left to right: The Army's delegation, family members and Military School classmates |
 General Germanos and the family members |
Special Photo Gallery for the event >>