Story and photos by Henri Migala

Video links of the event are found at the end of the article.

December 31, 2024 (El Cajon) - Joy filled the air at Kennedy Park in El Cajon, where the Syrian community of San Diego County held a community gathering on December 21 to celebrate Syria’s liberation. Approximately 300-400 members of the Syrian community--men and women, children and elderly-- attended the gathering to share their excitement for the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria by dancing, sharing food, waving Syrian and US flags, and sharing stories.