On New Year’s Eve 1995, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board, Religious Technology Center, gave a glimpse of what was to come in 1996: new means of bringing Scientology to the world like never before.

     Two and a half months later, at the 1996 L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Celebration, the unveiling of the first of these new programs took place. Before a capacity audience at Scientology’s spiritual mecca in Clearwater, Florida, the Flag Land Base—and a worldwide satellite broadcast viewership—Mr. David Miscavige began the event with an introductory speech focusing on the numerous tributes and awards recognizing L. Ron Hubbard and the ever-increasing public demand for his technology.

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     Thank you very much.

     It’s great to be here with you tonight, for the biggest birthday celebration ever for any 20th century figure.

     This is truly a worldwide celebration—one that literally reaches every corner of the world.

     Tonight we celebrate L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday in no less than 58 countries. Not only that, tonight we welcome 29 cities and 11 countries that are celebrating L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday with us for the first time.

     So please welcome those in attendance from Guinea, India, Madagascar, Moldovia, Romania, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and Ghana.

     What is it that we do tonight?

     We celebrate one man–L. Ron Hubbard.