What a Lebanese Cedar in Niagara Falls Means for Our Clients
Though my life and law practice are now based in the D.C. area, the Falls is where I grew up. More than a century ago, my family’s American story began when our grandparents—the great and great-great-grandparents of my children—left their mountain village of Beit Mery, Lebanon, to build a new life in Niagara Falls, New York. They were brave pioneers, driven by the same courage and hope that I see in my immigration clients every day.
This past October, I had the privilege of bringing those two worlds together.
From Main Street to the Middle East
During a visit back home, I was meeting with Mayor Robert Restaino to discuss redeveloping properties along the Main Street corridor when the conversation turned to our heritage. I shared that several local families—mine included—trace their roots back to Beit Mery. I suggested that, as we look for ways to rebuild the Falls, we should honor the bridge that brought us here.
The Mayor agreed. After months of coordination, Mayor Roy Abou Chedid and Vice Mayor Dr. Sami Moukheiber traveled from Lebanon to the States and formally established Niagara Falls and Beit Mery as sister cities.
Planting A Legacy
To honor this historic event, the mayors and our local Lebanese American community stood together at Niagara Falls’ City Hall to plant an authentic Lebanese Cedar tree on the front lawn. It was a proud moment to see that cedar—a symbol of our ancestral home—take root in the soil of the city that raised me. The Niagara Gazette featured this celebration on its front page; you can read the full story here.
My daughter, Laila, sourced the tree from Trees of Joy, a specialized grower in eastern Pennsylvania, which we discovered while listening to Lebanon USA, a podcast episode (a Kerning Cultures episode later adapted by Radiolab). The episode follows a Lebanese man’s road trip to 47 different U.S. towns named "Lebanon"—it is a beautiful piece of storytelling and absolutely worth a listen.
As Mayor Chedid noted during the ceremony, the tree stands as a living testament that "across oceans and histories, cities can choose to build together."
Why This Matters
When I walk into our firm today, I see my grandparents' faces in every client who sits across from me. Whether we are helping families reunite or assisting businesses in navigating complex visa processes, we are motivated by the same spirit of courage and opportunity that brought our grandparents from Beit Mery to the Niagara Falls a century ago.
This event at City Hall is just the beginning. We are proud to help the next generation of immigrants write their own unique American stories. And through this new sister city bond, we look forward to fulfilling our mutual goals of:
Educational and cultural exchange to bridge our two communities.
Municipal coordination and shared city-building expertise.
Strategic investment opportunities between the United States and Lebanon.
The roots are planted. Now, it’s time to help them grow…
I want to be part of your story. Give us a call at (703) 391-9898 or contact me here.