78th Kfeirian Reunion
Held in Huntington, WV
2010
If you attended this reunion and would like to have your photos included on this page, please submit your photos via email to reunion@kfeir.com.
President - Michael Abraham
Reunion Chair - George Hanna
Reunion Chair - George Hanna
Kfeirian Cultural Reunion continues
through Monday
BILL ROSENBERGER
The Herald-Dispatch
Sep 5, 2010
Pictured - Among those attending the 78th Kfeirian Reunion were (from Left) Denise Russell of Glen Allen, VA; Lila Fischer of Orlando, Sherry Parrish of Ellicott City MD; George Hanna of Huntington and Michael Harris of Minnesota. All but Russell are on the board of directors for the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation.
-- The Kfeirian Cultural Reunion transcends the typical family get-together on Labor Day weekend. For the past 78 years, families whose lineage goes back to the small village of Kfeir in Lebanon, come together in an effort to celebrate their heritage and keep it alive.
"It's very important to all of us," said Huntington resident George Hanna, who came to the U.S. with his mother after World War II.
Hanna said the reunions actually go back further than 1932, but those families recognized the importance of making it official.
Nearly 80 years later, the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation is a nonprofit entity with about 1,000 families within its database. The organization also raises money to support those of Kfeirian heritage here in the U.S., said Joey Peck, the current vice president of the board of directors. He said the foundation has assisted in building roads and water systems back in Kfeir.
The new challenge is building pride in the younger generation within the Kfeirian lineage.
"It's going to take the new generation to carry on the lineage for another 78 years," said Peck, who also lives in Huntington. "Younger people are separated from their heritage. We have to renew that."
That's part of the reason there are three days of events -- some new and some old -- that attempt to keep the heritage and history alive.
"Ever since I was a child, my parents and family have brought me to the reunion," Peck said. "It teaches you about your heritage and where you came from."
On Saturday, the opening day of the reunion, more than 200 families congregated into the ballroom at the Pullman Plaza Hotel. The first day included book signing by Rev. David Thabet, Arabic dance and language instruction, a Hummus throw-down contest, a Lebanese dinner and a night of mixed music.
There also was a kid's corner at the Cam Henderson Center and a tour of the Touma Medical Museum. Sunday includes the grand banquet with speaker Dr. Bruce Cassis, followed by dinner and dancing. On Monday, there is a brunch to close out the reunion.
The 79th reunion will be in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the 80th will be back in Huntington.
The link to this article in The Herald-Dispatch is located here: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/lebanese/image_7248dbaa-2b20-51a2-b761-06de2ebeb326.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
through Monday
BILL ROSENBERGER
The Herald-Dispatch
Sep 5, 2010
Pictured - Among those attending the 78th Kfeirian Reunion were (from Left) Denise Russell of Glen Allen, VA; Lila Fischer of Orlando, Sherry Parrish of Ellicott City MD; George Hanna of Huntington and Michael Harris of Minnesota. All but Russell are on the board of directors for the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation.
-- The Kfeirian Cultural Reunion transcends the typical family get-together on Labor Day weekend. For the past 78 years, families whose lineage goes back to the small village of Kfeir in Lebanon, come together in an effort to celebrate their heritage and keep it alive.
"It's very important to all of us," said Huntington resident George Hanna, who came to the U.S. with his mother after World War II.
Hanna said the reunions actually go back further than 1932, but those families recognized the importance of making it official.
Nearly 80 years later, the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation is a nonprofit entity with about 1,000 families within its database. The organization also raises money to support those of Kfeirian heritage here in the U.S., said Joey Peck, the current vice president of the board of directors. He said the foundation has assisted in building roads and water systems back in Kfeir.
The new challenge is building pride in the younger generation within the Kfeirian lineage.
"It's going to take the new generation to carry on the lineage for another 78 years," said Peck, who also lives in Huntington. "Younger people are separated from their heritage. We have to renew that."
That's part of the reason there are three days of events -- some new and some old -- that attempt to keep the heritage and history alive.
"Ever since I was a child, my parents and family have brought me to the reunion," Peck said. "It teaches you about your heritage and where you came from."
On Saturday, the opening day of the reunion, more than 200 families congregated into the ballroom at the Pullman Plaza Hotel. The first day included book signing by Rev. David Thabet, Arabic dance and language instruction, a Hummus throw-down contest, a Lebanese dinner and a night of mixed music.
There also was a kid's corner at the Cam Henderson Center and a tour of the Touma Medical Museum. Sunday includes the grand banquet with speaker Dr. Bruce Cassis, followed by dinner and dancing. On Monday, there is a brunch to close out the reunion.
The 79th reunion will be in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the 80th will be back in Huntington.
The link to this article in The Herald-Dispatch is located here: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/lebanese/image_7248dbaa-2b20-51a2-b761-06de2ebeb326.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share