A major whole day event highlighting Tyre's relevance, to the past, the present and the future was organized by the International Association to Save Tyre and the American Committee for Tyre, in cooperation with The Honorable Congressman Charles Boustany Jr. (R-La.), at the U.S. Library of Congress on Wednesday June 3rd, 2015.
A free symposium titled "Tyre Day at the Library of Congress", in collaboration with the African and Middle Eastern Division in the Library of Congress, was held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on that day in the Northeast Pavilion of the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building, located at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.
"This is the Library's first major conference on the rich archaeology of the Tyre region and its contribution to world civilization," said Mary-Jane Deeb who had a major contribution orchestrating that event.
The first panel discussed the history of Tyre, while the second panel focused on Phoenician commerce and art, and the third panel spotlighted Tyre in the Bible. During the Symposium, domestic and international expert panelists examined the legacy of the Queen of the Seas. (See Symposium Program)
One of the crucial questions raised during a day-long symposium at the Library of Congress was how can important heritage sites like Tyre be saved from being looted and destroyed. James F. Fitzpatrick, an adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law School, believes this can only be done with the cooperation of the international community:
