MEA 70 YEARS
For the special occasion marking MEA’s 70th anniversary, BDL and MEA together with more than 1500 distinguished guests, gathered in MEA’s hangar on a stage specially designed and built by Event Staging Professionals.
The evening of Friday, May 29, 2015 was a different evening where a wedding unlike any other was celebrated: A wedding in which the seventy-year young Middle East Airlines was crowned the most beautiful bride of Lebanon. But the most striking aspect of that night was the unique flavor that characterized this particular wedding: A national flavor par excellence.
MEA Chairman – Director General Mr. Mohamad El-Hout held a gala dinner under the patronage of H.E. Prime Minister Tamam Salam and the participation of H.E. Governor of The Central Bank Riad Salameh on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of MEA’s founding.
MEA’s anniversary celebration was much like a “wedding” that gathered Lebanese from different religious communities and political affiliations together under one roof: The roof of national unity, the roof of love and generosity; the roof of openness and development; the roof of Rafic Hariri International Airport - Beirut; the roof of the national institution that knows no discrimination or social bias. Here they gathered from all backgrounds, here they celebrated MEA’s 70th anniversary along with that of the nation. Invitees hailed from all Lebanese regions; from the north and south, and from the east and west. They all came because this is their company, which gathered them to share its joy, achievements, and successes. This company is a part of them and they are part of its long history; how then would they not honor this invitation?
Middle East Airlines is the image of the Lebanon we all yearn to achieve: The Lebanon of peace; the Lebanon of culture; and the Lebanon of unity. This event made many of the guests wonder whether it was an occasion to celebrate MEA’s 70th anniversary or that of the nation.
More than 1500 guests gathered in MEA’s hangar, and had this hangar been able to accommodate Lebanon’s five million inhabitants; they would have all come to participate in this national “wedding”.
MEA’s 70th Anniversary Celebration: A Massive National Event
The event was attended by the representative of H.E. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Dr. Mahmoud Berri, representative of H.E. former President of the Republic Michel Sleiman H.E. Minister Nazem El-Khoury, representative of H.E. former Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri H.E. MP Ghazi Youssef, representative of H.E. MP Michel Aoun H.E. Ibrahim Kanaan, H.E. Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister Samir Mokbel, and Commander of the Lebanese Army Jean Qahwaji. This is in addition to a large number of official figures including Their Excellencies current Ministers Elias Bou Saab, Mohamad Al-Mashnouk, Abdul Mutleb Al-Hannawi, Mohamad Fneish, Ramzi Jreij, and Botros Harb; Their Excellencies current MP’s Strida Geagea, Atef Majdalani, Imad El-Hout, Mohamad Hajjar, Alan Aoun, Amin Sherri, Mansour Al-Bon; Their Excellencies former Ministers Ziad Baroud, Joe Sarkis, Nehmeh Tohmeh, Freij Sabounjian, Jean Agaspian, Khaled Kabbani, Ali Kanso, Adnan Al-Kassar, Shakib Qartbawi, Yassine Jaber, Marwan Hamadeh, Bahij Tabbara, President of the Press Syndicate Mr. Aouni Al-Kaaki, President of the Editors Syndicate Elias Aoun, Their Excellencies Ambassadors of Foreign Countries in Lebanon: Ambassador of France Patrice Paoli, Ambassador of Italy Giuseppe Morabito, Ambassador of the European Union Angelina Akhurst; and Mrs. Mona Hrawi, President of the Higher Judicial Council Mr. Jean Fahd, as well as senior political, military, economic, diplomatic, social and media figures in addition to MEA Director – General Mr. Mohamad El-Hout, MEA Board Members, and the loyal “family” and friends of MEA.
Distinguished Plans and Finishing Touches to Secure a Legendary and Contemporary Ambiance for the Grand Evening
The bride captivated from the moment she appeared on the scene. Here was the “70th anniversary” Middle East Airlines flight, circling over Lebanese skies for 40 minutes before landing at Rafi Hariri International Airport – Beirut in proximity to the hangar. Guests approached, and were delighted to discover that it was painted with the same colors of the first MEA aircraft. As guests approached even closer, they discovered that onboard was Captain Saadeddine Dabbous (90 years), the first Lebanese pilot and carrier of Lebanese aviation license no.1. Indeed, it was Captain Dabbous, who has become an integral part of MEA history, descending from the aircraft along with his sons and grandsons, also pilots, to the applause and awe of the guests!
After that, the hostesses (MEA’s “bridesmaids”) and male flight attendants descended from the same aircraft donning the different, distinctive uniforms that have been created since the outset of MEA up to its 70th anniversary. They took the guests back in time on a voyage of memory.
Superb stage shows for every uniform were presented by 6 groups of hostesses, with an elaborate description of each uniform’s details, the era it represented and even the music particular to that era – until the showcasing of the latest uniform designed in an elegant royal blue color.
With confident strides, hostesses walked the red carpet to the sound of dazzling music. Guests then entered the reception hall to the tune of a special song dedicated to Middle East Airlines, which Lebanese singer Hani el-Omari had performed several years ago.
The event started with The Lebanese National Anthem.
Then, shining media personality Carla Haddad presented the event with meaningful words and introduced the speakers: MEA Chairman - Director General Mr. Mohamad Al-Hout who delivered the first anniversary celebration speech; followed by the speeches of H.E. Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Mr. Riad Salameh; and the son of MEA’s founder, H.E. Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
Following the end of the speech of Prime Minister Tammam Salam, MEA Chairman and Board Members presented H.E. with an honorary shield.
Guests then enjoyed a lavish dinner to the melodies of the song of artist Assi Hallani entitled “Ramz Lubnan” (The Emblem of Lebanon). Finally a special anniversary cake, adorned with the replica of an MEA aircraft and the MEA logo, was cut for the occasion.
The evening lasted until the break of dawn in a joyous atmosphere where Pianist Guy Manoukian poured his soul into his piano performance and Super Star Ragheb Alami sang the best of his old and new repertoire. At the end of the evening, gifts were distributed to the invitees consisting of replicas of the first MEA airplane and singer Assi Hellani’s CD featuring the Middle East Airlines song “Antee Ramz Lubnan”.
In this “wedding of national unity”, we wish MEA a very happy anniversary. May it remain successful, and congratulations to Lebanon on this anniversary.
Preparations by the Bride’s Family
Let us take you on a brief journey into the preparations, initiatives, and activities that preceded the big day. MEA prepared for its special day just as the bride prepares herself for her wedding:
Early 2015, the “bride’s family” (MEA Management) began the preparations for the big day, by selecting the slogan of the 70th anniversary.
Arrangements and Initiatives Preceding Key Events:
• Launching the slogan “Old Never, Young Forever”: This was the slogan that marked MEA’s 70th anniversary. It filled all Lebanese regions and was broadcast on all Lebanese TV networks. The reason behind this choice
was that the company resembles the cedar tree; a tree forever young, which never bends in the wind and firmly resists storms.
• Issuing a special medal: The Central Bank of Lebanon issued a special medal to commemorate MEA’s 70th anniversary and mark the company’s achievements and successes. The Governor of the Central Bank announced this medal during the opening event of the Middle East Aviation Academy, on March 17, 2015.
• Planting 70 cedar trees: MEA launched the initiative of planting 70 cedar trees in the reserves of the Shouf, Tannourine, Ehden, Becharri, and Jej. The initiatives resulted in the planting of 7,000 cedars along with 7,000 local trees, and in naming the newly-planted area within the Shouf Cedar Reserve as “MEA’s Cedar Forest”, in an effort to preserve a clean environment and to increase green spaces.
• Offering 70 free tickets: MEA launched a competition on its social media pages under the title, MEA 70th Anniversary Challenges: Ten lucky participants will win a ticket monthly for a period of seven months, under the supervision of La Libanaise des Jeux (National Lottery). • Designing a new uniform for MEA hostesses: MEA hostesses will be wearing a new "royal" uniform designed by creative young Lebanese fashion designer Antoine Al-Qarih (born in 1982 and winner of the “Best Fashion Designer” title in the first Arab fashion design program in the Middle East, Mission Fashion). The color of the new hostess uniforms is royal blue (the color of the sky and the sea). Significant is the return of the bonnet to complete the look. As for male flight attendant uniforms, Mr. Rabih Azar (from MEA), put his distinctive touches on that.
• Launching a special song for MEA’s 70th anniversary: The Knight of the Arab Song Assi El Hellani sang a new song titled “Tayaran al- Sharq el-Awsat, Antee Ramz Lubnan” (Middle East Airlines, You are the Emblem of Lebanon).
Source: Cedar Wings Magazine