John Gérard Akouri

NEWS | COMMENTARY | SPEECHES | ANALYSIS | LETTERS | STATEMENTS | PHOTOS

My Photo
Name:
Location: Birmingham, MI, United States

Councilman John Akouri, former Washington, DC Press Secretary & Capitol Hill Advisor, is President & CEO of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Stars Turn Out to Celebrate The Golden Cedar Awards as Lebanese Americans Converge on Detroit to Attend Fourth Annual Gala

FROM TOP: (l-r) - Honorees His Excellency, the former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain Sam Zakhem, WB Daytime TV Judge Jeanine Pirro pose with Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Councilman John Akouri; Awaiting presentation, the Golden Cedars and Pillars of Baalbek displayed on stage with the Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino across the Detroit River in the background; Acclaimed Hollywood Actor Alex Safi, just coming off his role in the new Wesley Snipes movie 'Game of Death' performs the American National Anthem, following the Presentation of Colors by the Boy Scout Troop #1036, as Katie Mann, star of the new Ridha Ibrahim music video translates the anthem into sign language, followed by International Superstar Usama Baalbaki performing the Lebanese National Anthem; Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Juliette Kayyem delivers the Keynote Speech after being introduced by Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano; FOX-2 News Personality Huel Perkins makes a cameo appearance and delivers an impromptu salute as the evening's Celebrity Toastmaster; Posing with the Golden Cedar are Councilman John Akouri, Miss Michigan USA Rima Fakih, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Wayne County Judge David Allen, Officer Gregory Saffady; Oud Virtuoso Laith Alattar entertains the audience gathered at the GM World Headquarters Renaissance Center Marriott Hotel for the event; Posing with the Golden Cedar are Councilman John Akouri, Miss Michigan USA Rima Fakih, Ambassador Sam Zakhem, Wayne State University Vice President Harvey Hollins, Consul General of Detroit Bashir Tawk; Congressman Pete Hoekstra presents flags flown over the Capitol in Washington, DC in honor of the awardees; Surprising the audience, Geraldo Rivera addresses the guests via video; At the AfterParty, guests were gifted with a special edition of ALO Hayati Magazine from Los Angeles, California. (Photography by DeMarie Krell)

JOHN AKOURI ONLINE NEWSROOM 'We will confront this mortal danger to all humanity. We will not tire, or rest, until the war on terror is won.' -- PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH Add to end of above"line without paranthesis when wanting to loop sound (( loop="-1">