This year’s Flag Day celebration witnessed what seems to be a departure from tradition following the absence of key government officials from the historic ceremony.
Those absence were President Joseph Boakai who was currently in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States of America, attending the 124h, National Black Business Conference; Vice President Jeremiah Koung in India representing the President at another forum and Senate Pro-Temp, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence who is in the US attending another event.
On February 11, 2024, the Armed Forces Day, a national holiday as proclaimed was never held and so, this also marks another significant moment in the country’s history, where for the first time in memory, a sitting President, Vice President and Senate Pro-Tempore were all absent from its celebrations.
Many have since analyzed that this is not just about the absence of the President, VP and Pro-Temp or the cancellation of the Armed Forces Day events but it has been recorded as events that were unprecedentedly celebrated in Boakai’s first year reign.
Some diplomats in attendance and Liberians who observe the day from their homes were all wondering if national holidays are really significant or should be dignified when leaders themselves seem not to honor its existence.
