Ceda r s i n t h e P i n e s
December 2012, Issue 2
In the News
The Lebanese in North Carolina Project Newsletter
CC Now is a great time to give your family and friends a copy of the
documentary Cedars in the Pines! Visit our
website (http://lac.chass.ncsu.edu) to order
your copies in time for the holidays.
CC We are holding an information session about
the project for the Lebanese-American
community in Goldsboro on Sunday,
December 9 @ 2 PM. The event will take
place in Wayne Community College (3000 Wayne Memorial Drive,
Goldsboro, Walnut Building Room 101). Please join us if you are in the
area for a lively discussion and some Middle Eastern snacks!
CC We are delighted to announce that the Khayrallah
Program for Lebanese-American Studies received
a $10,000 Grant from the NC Humanities Council
to help fund the planned 2014 museum exhibit
dedicated to the history of the Lebanese in North Carolina. We are
thankful to them for their generosity.
In the Archive
Only two decades after the end of the American Civil War, the first wave of
Lebanese immigrants arrived in the United States. They not ony worked hard
to enrich this country economically and culturally, but they also served it with
their lives. Thus, by World War I
(1914), and during World War II,
some 30,000 Lebanese-Americans
were at war fighting In the US
Armed Forces.
Of those many came from North
Carolina. Ernest Heeder, the greatuncle
of Ernie and Eddie Mansour
of Goldsboro, NC, was stationed in
France during World War I where he
served as a medic. Joseph Salem
fought in WWII for the United States when he served in the Signal Corps.
Edward Tanoury fought in World War II with the navy. Five Shadouri brothers
fought in World War II (Richard, Peter, Alfred, Paul and John), garnering
recognition around the state.
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Ceda r s i n t h e P i n e s
December 2012, Issue 2
In the Community
The Lebanese in North Carolina Project Newsletter
This month’s focus on the community profile: Bearta al-Chacar Powell from
Cary, NC.
When did your family come to NC?
I arrived in Raleigh, NC in 1988 to attend NCSU where I received a degree in
Business Management.
What is your favorite Lebanese holiday and why?
My favorite holiday was and still is Christmas as it seems to bring the best in
people regardless of religion.
What does it mean to be Lebanese?
I am lucky enough to be born Lebanese and
inherited the resilience, determination, and
appreciation for life. Aside from making us
stronger, the civil war taught us to take nothing
for granted, to cease every opportunity to excel
and not fear failure. Diversity in Lebanon taught
us to respect and accept each other’s faith, to
be open to cultural exchange, at the same time
preserve our own culture.
The TLA’s Dabke group dance to a famous Lebanese song called “Libnani”
by Assi Hilani: “When you appear, you spread your love to everyone, and
people know you are Lebanese…” I am proud to have represented Lebanon
in a positive way.
For additional information please visit the Powell collection on our online archive.
http://nclebanese.org/home/collections/show/1
If you would like us to profile you or a member of your family then drop us a note at
akram_khater@ncsu.edu
Follow us on Twitter
Friend us on Facebook
http://nclebanese.org
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Happy Holidays