Youth in war 6

Between the 1978 and early eighties, a new shape of political scene was shaping up. After the arrest of the Palestinian invasion of the Christian part of Lebanon by the intervention of the Syrians, the conflict has turned to become a conflict between the sovereignty of Lebanon identity from the new player, the Syrian. This era has witnessed the rise of a hero called Bechir Gemayel. A young Maronite-Catholic leader who came from the Gemayel clan, the son of Pierre,the founder of the main Christian Lebanese party called the Kataeb. Bechir was charismatic, straight forward and connected with the popular mass not as the son of Pierre. A true fighter, full of pride he made what became to be known as the Lebanese Forces(LF). His goal was to re-unite the Christian militias and govern the Christian Lebanon. He fought two wars with the Syrians, one was in Beirut was to clean what became to be known as Free Lebanon or the Eastern part of beirut. The war centered in Achrafieh, Ain el Roummaneh. the second war was a very vicious war with the Syrians for the control of Zahle, the capital of the Bekaa. He has sent soldiers from all over throught the wicked terrain of the mountains of Saanine. The Syrians fought with all there strength to destroy Zahle, using helicopters drops over the sannine summit known as the french room, the road of revitalization of Zahle. The western powers interfered mainly the French to end the conflict. it was settled by a withdrawal of the fighters through the ground back to Beirut and to put the Lebanese town under the control of the Lebanese police and no Syrian presence in this town. That was a big success for Bechir and for free Lebanon. I remember as young teenager, there was a sit-in of nuns on the Presidential avenue near my house, and the buses carrying the boys what we used to call them "al chabeb" arrived to the sit-in where a bug gathering was made to welcome them and sure enough Bechir was there to greet them in his military uniform of the LF. i haven't seen since i was six years old when he was at the beginning of his career, he came to visit the house of my cousin who used to head the military police of the Kataeb.We were so excited, I sat on his knee unfortunately i lost that picture but it stayed in my heart.... he definitely has changed by than, you can tell the situation he had lived has started to shape his face and demeanor. He was kissing each one of them as it is our habits, they were only 90 young men who stodd in front of this gigantic ruthless army.... so you can imagine the feeling at that point, Bechir knew each one of them by name like his own brother... that was his strength and it was the birth of a Hero.....