28 February 2005

Here are a couple of pictures and an account of the service dedicated to Basil's recovery that was held in Washington, DC, on the 24th. You can also read the remarks made at the service by clicking here.

"On February 24 more than one hundred of Basil Fuleihan’s friends braved the heavy snow and gathered in St Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC, to express their love and respect for Basil and pray for his recovery. Among those present were members of Basil’s extended family as well as friends, former colleagues, and other senior officials from the World Bank and IMF, where Basil served before returning to Lebanon in 1993. In addition to Lebanese friends, the nationality list of those present covered the four corners of the globe and included the US, UK, France, Italy Spain Switzerland, Peru, Egypt, Jordan, among others.

With a Fairuz hymn playing in the background, Monsignor Jameson talked about love, kindness and the virtue of giving, which Basil represented and lived by. It was a simple service yet a very profound one, where feelings of deep sadness, and hope of Basil’s recovery, bonded all those present, friends and strangers alike. Prayers were also raised for the spirit of Former President of the Council of Ministers Rafic El Hariri and his friends, who fell on February 14.  

The service finished with a word from former Ambassador Mohamed Chatah. He spoke of Basil’s love of Lebanon and his return to serving it 12 years ago. He expressed hope that the awful crime committed against the Lebanese people ten days ago will help turn Lebanon into the nation that Basil and Prime Minister Hariri have always wanted and struggled for. He also echoed everyone’s heartfelt wish that in the future Basil will be able to offer Valentine’s Day flowers to Yasma as he was intending to do on that terrible afternoon of February 14th. "

Comments

[Charbel Constantine]

Hello

Just want to wish Mr. Flayhan the fast cure and hope he will return to us soon.

Thanks for this site and my best regards to Mr. Flayhan and his family
Regards
C.Constantine

[haitham khodor]

I pray to God to help you pass through your rough times and come back to Lebanon in good health.
It is hard to write words about a person who you've never met but I've heard about your good deeds and your honsty.
You are a root in this tree of freedom and in the trail of brave men who served their country.
Fight to live and come back to Lebanon because your family needs you as well as the every free soul in this small country called "LEBANON"

[Michel Gholam]

Dear Basil,

I want you to know that yesterday I took both of my kids (Elie 13 yrs. and Hani 8yrs.) to the Martyr's Square and gave them a good dose of "Lebanese-ness" They both know you and proudly tell everybody that Minister and deputy Basil Fleihan was my daddy's classmate at IC. I can tell you, Basil, I am as proud of you as they childishly are of the fact that their daddy has been your classmate, and that's not so much for your clear achievements in life-and they are many, but for the fact that people like you help define the very new "Lebanese identity" we all felt at the Wardieh Church and Martyr's Square.
We all pray for the immediate alleviation of your pains and your return to Lebanon.
Michel, Marie-Helene, Elie, and Hani Gholam

Plz add regularly Basil's condition and how he's doing.
We are all with you....

[A.Hammoud]

we hope Mr. Fleihan a speed recovery, and our wishes are that he comes home soon... we are all waiting for him... we wish his family all the patience...

[Hiba Itani]

Mr Bassel Fuleihan was my professor in last year economics. From the department he was the most friendly professor the economics' major students ever had.
Being in Canada, I was shocked to u know that our former teacher was injured in such an unbelievable extremely ugly bombing.
I want his family to be patient and I pray for him from all my heart to recover fast and return to his friends and people who love him.
Get well soon Mr. Fleihan

[Hans G. Pirner]

Hang on Basil, don't let it go. See you back in Beirut soon

[Mounir and Roula Douaidy]

Dear Basil and Yasma,

Basil, not a single day passes that we don't think of you and pray for you. You are in our hearts and the heart of every person in this country. Lebanon is proud of you for all your qualities, and what you represent in contributing to Lebanon's bright face. People like you are rare and deserve all the best. Your struggle for recovery is a symbol of revival, determination and hope for this country.

May God accompany you every moment, and rest assured that family, friends and many who don’t even know you are praying for you and wish you full and speedy recovery.

Mounir and Roula Douaidy - Beirut

[Patrick Beyrouti and Maya Amiouny]

As a schoolmate at IC and as a classmate at AUB , Basil you were always admired and inspired sooo many of us. Get well soon, our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family everyday.

[karim fares]

DEAR YASMA,

NO WORDS CAN LONGER EXPRESS WHAT BASSIL, YOU AND HIS FAMILY ARE GOING THROUGH. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WERE ALL PROUD TO HOSTE A PERSONALITY LIKE BASSIL AT THE RIDING CENTER. WATCHING HIM IN HIS ROLE OF FATHER ATTENDING RAYNA'S RIDING SESSIONS WAS A LESSON OF HUMILITY: HOW SUCH A GREAT FIGURE, CAN BE SIMPLE AND HUMBLE.I AM SURE THAT DAYS ARE TO COME WHEN WE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN ACCOMPANYING RAYNA TO HER PONY LESSON. JUST LET HIM HANG ON. MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THIS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PERIOD.
THE MIRACLE WILL GO ON!!
KARIM FARES

[Kamal and Natalie Shehadi]

Dear Basil,

Our prayers and our thoughts are with you every day. We pray for your recovery, and for Yasma, Raina, Rayan and Auntie Rida to have strength at this very difficult time. We admire your courage, your determination and your will to live, just as we are proud of your immeasurable contribution to our beloved Lebanon.

Love from Kamal, Natalie, Sameer, Sarah, Hana, and William Shehadi

[dhaini]

i wish to Mr flayhan the fast cure and hope he will return to lebanon and to his family and to us very soon god help and bless him
our hearts are with you

dhaini hussein
france

[maha fawaz]

أتمنى الشفاء العاجل للبطل باسل فليحان . كما أتمنى من عائلته

الاتكال على الله الذي يمهل و لا يهمل الظالمين فرحمة الله على الشهيد الغالي رفيق الحريري حبيب لبنان شهيد الاستقلال و لتحرق قلوب اولائك الخبثاء الذين قرروا حرق باسل و اغتيال رفيق الحريري الذي هو الان أقوى من قبل بوحدة شعبه واصراه على اكمال طريق الحرية الى النهاية. مع باسل فليحان باذن الله

[Charbel abinader]

Dear Mr Fleihan
We all pray for you and for our country
We need you, your family need you too and your country
Please return to us soon
and i dedicate this song for you
http://charbela.free.fr/charbelabinader.com_almonologue.com_politic_2005_rawa7na.htm

Charbel abi nader
France
www.charbelabinader.com

[Raafat and Raja Raad]

From the cedras of Ain Zhalta, the cedars of God, a glancing hope for the recovery of our suffering country, the light of the candle that brightened the path of a genuine economist, politician, and reformer who put the alphabet of the caliber of politicians that will give birth to a new era of the rebirth of new Lebanon.
Physically we are aparted, but spiritually from the first moment of the tragic accident we are with you in our thoughts and prayers. We pray for God to give you a miraculous recovery because God can do the impossible, for the sake of our beloved Reda, Yasma, Rayan, and Raina and each and everybody in Lebanon.
Raafat & Raja Raad

[suheil H. Sabbagh]

To all the Fuleihan family,

I wish Basil the speedest recovery and my prayers are with you.

From Suheil Hasib Sabbagh

[saad ajalat]

hoping from our GAD 2 be with no matter what happend gad well be with every her in JORDAN LOOKING FOR GOOD NEWZ OUR HEART WITH U basil

[ajalat family\jordan]

dear BASIL
U R GREAT MAN U R THE BEST WE R LOOKING 2 SEE U AGAIN DONT LEAVE US EVERY ONE HER IN jordan LOOKING 2 HEAR agood news about u soon we hope

[Sawsan Kobeissi]

Dear Yasma,

This is just a small note to tell you my heart is with you. You are in my prayers every day, I pray for Bassel's recovery and for God to give you together with Rayna, Rayan and the rest of the family the strength to overcome this horrible situation.

It is always Rayna that comes into my mind when I think of Bassel. I truly wish him a full and quick recovery for the sake of Rayna and Rayan.

Sawsan Kobeissi.

[Michael Ryan]

Dear Basel and family

You are in our thoughts and prayers. From the many who know you and worked with you at the European Commission.

[Stephanie Shwabsky]

Dear Family Fuleihan

We here at the Australia Embassy in Beirut are thinking of Basil everyday. We wish the Fuleihan family and Basil the strength to cope with this terrible ordeal. We wish Basil a full recovery. We hope you take comfort from the knowledge that you are in the thoughts and prayers of your friends all over the world.

Stephanie Shwabsky, Australian Ambassador, Beirut, Lebanon

[bassam]

May God cure the innocent victim BAssel Fuleihan who was severely injured in the disastrous assassination that targeted Prime Minister Rafic Al Hariri. We would have loved that none is gone but now that we have already lost al Hariri we pray for God To Save Bassel Fuleihan.

[Carole Khalife]

GOD works in mysterious ways and everything in Life happens for a reason..

Dear Jesus, Bassil's life and well being is in your hands. we all have faith and we are all praying for his recovery.

he is a decent man. Have mercy.

[Carole Khalife]

GOD works in mysterious ways and everything in Life happens for a reason..

Dear Jesus, Bassil's life and well being is in your hands. we all have faith and we are all praying for his recovery.

he is a decent man. Have mercy.

[Chris & Waleed Faddoul]

Dear Basil;
If only you could be here today.
If only you could see the people gathered and shouting for the change and asking for the truth to be divulged.
Ya Allah ya Basil. Did you have to be hurt to make us revolt?
Ya Allah you Basil... you really missed it.
Allah kbir... Soon you will be with us in the next rally.
May God bring you back to us the soonest.
Yalla recover, we're all waiting for you.