PRESS RELEASE
SYRIA’s FESTIVAL OF COMMEMORATION
The past few days witnessed unprecedented scenes in Syria as the remains of Syrians, Palestinians and other Arabs who fell in defence of their homeland and in resisting the injustice of occupation were received as part of the exchange arrived at between the Lebanese Resistance and Israel.
The remains, each shrouded with the flag of the country of the dead warrior, were given a heroic reception as they were driven from the Lebanese border to Damascus, where a central ceremony was held in their honour.
The bodies were then taken individually to their final destinations. Some to the towns and villages of Syria from where they hailed, others to rest temporarily until they can be returned to a liberated Palestine, and the remainder to be returned to their Arab country of origin.
Hundreds of thousands throughout the country participated in the expression of national homage, seeing in this solemn event an embodiment of the spirit of struggle and defiance that has marked the history of Syria and its people through the ages.
It was also very apt that this great popular ceremony should coincide with the annual national commemoration of the Battle of Maysaloun. That battle takes pride of place in the annals of Syrian History, when on July 24th 1920 a hastily gathered Syrian force ,under the command of the Defence Minister of the newly-independent Syrian Kingdom, Youssef Al Azmeh, confronted a much larger and overwhelmingly stronger French invading army at the village of Maysaloun near the border with modern Lebanon. The outcome was, of course, beyond dispute. But Youssef Al Azmeh, and his fellow fighters, chose to die rather than allow history to record that Syria was conquered without its defenders putting up a fight .
The inspiration of Maysaloun lives on and has helped to forge the resilient and resolute nature of the Syrian people in the face of adversity, and it will see them through in their continuing quest for the liberation of their land and the achievement of a just and honourable peace.
Press Office – Syrian Embassy in London
25th of July 2008