President Aoun: I Call for Raising the Lebanese Flag in Homes and Schools from 20 to 22 of This Month

Republic President General Joseph Aoun called on Lebanese citizens to "raise the Lebanese flag in their homes, institutions, companies, and schools, especially during the period extending from November 20 to 22 inclusive, which includes Independence Day," considering that "the flag is not merely a banner fluttering above institutions and squares, but a symbol of the nation's unity, sovereignty, dignity, and national identity. It is the unifying element that rises above affiliations and differences, encapsulating Lebanon's history, its children's sacrifices, and their hopes. Moreover, respecting the flag is respecting the homeland, and preserving it is a national duty reflecting our belonging to and loyalty towards it."

President Aoun's remarks came during his reception at Baabda Palace this morning of Father Charbel Bouaboud, Director of the Technical Institute, and Rita Saafar, Administrative Assistant at the Institute, who presented the President with an initiative titled "Project to Preserve the Lebanese Flag," a voluntary national and educational initiative.

Father Bouaboud explained that "the initiative consolidates the culture of respecting and preserving the Lebanese flag as a symbol of sovereignty, freedom, and national unity, by adopting a clear mechanism for its care in official, educational, municipal, and other institutions. The goal is to ensure that no torn or neglected flag is raised, and that it is treated in all stages of use in a manner worthy of its national symbolism."

The objectives of the initiative include: protecting the Lebanese flag from tearing, wear, and damage; maintaining its colors, symbolism, and dignified appearance; adopting unified standards for raising, lowering, folding, rolling, and storing the flag; defining an official mechanism for handling damaged flags and disposing of them in a way that preserves their symbolic value; and spreading the culture of respect for the flag among younger generations.

The initiative also calls for periodic care of the flag through regular inspection of flags in institutions, squares, and streets; ensuring the integrity of fabric, colors, stitching, ropes, and mounting poles; monitoring the condition of flags after storms and harsh weather conditions; and replacing any torn, faded, or unusable flag.

President Aoun welcomed the "Preserving the Lebanese Flag" initiative, praising the ideas contained within it and the timing of its announcement, which coincides with Flag Day followed by Independence Day. He stated: "The flag is a trust in our necks, and preserving and protecting it is a responsibility that does not fall solely on the state and its institutions, but extends to every citizen. Whoever raises the flag must live up to the values it symbolizes—sacrifice, freedom, dignity, and unity—and maintain its status and prestige, in word and deed, because homelands are not preserved by slogans alone, but by respecting their symbols and working for them."

In addition, President Aoun discussed environmental affairs with Minister of Environment Tamara Al-Zein, reviewing the measures taken by the ministry to maintain environmental safety and protect natural resources.

Minister Al-Zein also briefed the President on her participation in the "L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science" event, the UNESCO conference, and the meetings she held on the sidelines of these two events.

Furthermore, President Aoun met with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza to discuss the situation in Lebanon generally and in the south specifically, amid continued Israeli aggressions and the Lebanese state's efforts to put an end to them, as well as ongoing consultations to avoid any vacuum following the expiration of the operational mandate of UNIFIL forces in Lebanon.