By Bill W. Cooper
The observance of Liberia’s Flag Day is in just 24 hours and what seems to be a departure from tradition is about to occur, as President Joseph Boakai might not form part of activities befitting this proclaimed national holiday slated for August 24, 2024.
As 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 will not be present at its celebrations.
Many are analyzing that this is not just about the absence of a sitting President or the cancellation of the Armed Forces Day events but it will be recorded as events that were unprecedentedly celebrated in Boakai’s first year reign.
However, Liberians are beginning to wonder if national holidays are really significant or should be dignified when leaders themselves seem not to honor its existence and this comes to mind as President Boakai is currently out of the country attending the 124h, National Black Business Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States of America.
In an Executive Mansion release, the President and his delegation are expected to be back in the country on Sunday, August 25, 2024, leaving many Liberians feeling a sense of unease and uncertainty.
According to President Boakai’s Proclamation, Saturday, August 24, 2024 is National Flag Day and is to be observed as a National Holiday throughout the Republic and furthered, ‘The Proclamation calls on citizens and foreign residents within the Liberian borders to give prominence to the observance of the Day by displaying the National Flag from each dwelling and public building.’
Contained in a Foreign Ministry release, all government offices, public and business houses are to remain closed on this day; the Proclamation which is in consonance with an Act approved on October 25, 1915 by the Legislature stated.
The government recognizes that the Day is commemorated annually by all citizens of the Republic in testimony of their allegiance and loyalty to the National Ensign which is an embodiment of the nation’s existence as a sovereign entity and to encourage national pride and patriotism.
According to the Presidential Proclamation, this year celebration will be executed by the Ministry of Education under the theme: “The flag, a symbol of one Liberia” with Olubanke King Akerele serving as the Keynote Speaker at the indoor program.
The Proclamation outlined activities surrounding the ceremony to include a general rehearsal involving students and other participating groups on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at the Barclay Training Center while on Saturday, August 24, 2024, the indoor program will be held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Ashmun Street.
According to the itinerary, the ceremony will comprise of a competitive drill involving 30 participating schools and other groups parading from the Barclay Training Center, through the United Nations (UN) Drive to the Centenial Memorial Pavilion for the pass-in-review in the presence of the ‘President’ and Vice President of the Republic of Liberia.
It is also planned and announced that President Boakai will subsequently deliver a special Flag Day message; though the decision for the President to have scheduled his trip to America around such an important national holiday sparked controversy and debate among the citizens across Monrovia and its environ.
Some have describing the President’s decision as ‘unprecedented and unpatriotic,’ questioning the president’s commitment to his duties and responsibilities as the leader of Liberia while others see President Boakai’s absence as a sign of his commitment to his duties as President.
They also expressed their disappointment by the president’s decision to be away during such an important national holiday, with some taken to social media to express their frustration, in hashtags such as ‘#WhereIsBoakai and #FlagDayWithoutPresident.’
One concerned citizen, Mark Johnson expressed disappointment in an interview, stating, “It is disheartening to see that our President might be absent during the Flag Day; a day that is meant to bring us together as a nation.”
“This action sends the wrong message to the people of Liberia and the world against this government’s patriotism especially so this is his first flag Day celebrations as a sitting President of Liberia,” he added.
On April 9, 1827, a resolution was made establishing the first flag of Liberia, during its time as a colony, which identified the flag the same as the United States, except with a white cross in the place of the canton’s stars.
In preparation for independence, the flag of Liberia was redesigned and hand-stitched by a committee of seven women, which Governor Joseph Jenkins Roberts, in a letter dated July 10, 1847, asked Susannah Elizabeth Lewis to head the committee.
Other members of the committee were Matilda Newport, Rachel Johnson, Mary Hunter, Mrs. J. B. Russwurm, Colonette Teage Ellis, and Sara Draper, as all of the women were born in the United States, and many of them were wives of prominent men in Liberia.
Since then, Flag Day has been a significant and national holiday in Liberia, commemorating its adoption on August 24, 1847, as a day of national pride and unity, with celebrations including parades, flag-raising ceremonies, and cultural performances.
It is day set aside also for Liberians to come together and celebrate their national pride and unity, but President Boakai absent from the country, many are concerned about the message this sends to the people and the international community.
Established as a national holiday in 1915, the Liberian flag’s design represents the country’s past, present, and future, with the red and white stripes symbolizing courage and moral excellence, and the blue field representing the African continent.
