President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation, declared Wednesday, March 11, 2015 as Decoration Day and is to be observed throughout Liberia as a national holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the President’s Proclamation is in consonance with an Act of the National Legislature approved on October 24, 1916 which declared the Second Wednesday of March in each year to be known as “Decoration Day” and to be observed as a National Holiday.

The President, in the Proclamation, ordered that the National Ensign be flown at half-mast from all public buildings, military camps and private residences from 12:01 ante meridian (AM) to 5:30 post meridian (PM).

The Proclamation adds that it is befitting that a day be set aside to celebrate the memory of the dead, who have lived and died in the interest of the Liberian Nation, thereby keeping ever alive their deed and invaluable contribution made to society and the State for onward march to progress.