President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared Wednesday, August 24, 2016, as “National Flag Day”, and is to be observed as a National Holiday throughout the Republic.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader has called upon all citizens and foreign residents within our borders to give prominence to the observance of the Day throughout the Republic by flying the National Flag from each dwelling and public building, and that all government offices, public and business houses be closed in reverence to the Day.

She has further directed the Ministry of Education and all other Government agencies concerned to execute appropriate programs befitting the day.

The Proclamation states that the National Ensign of Liberia is a visible evidence of the country’s sovereignty and independence as well as a symbol of pride and dignity within the comity of nations.

By an Act approved on October 25, 1915, the National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia declared August 24^th each year as “National Flag Day” to be observed as a “National Holiday” throughout the Republic of Liberia.

The Proclamation stresses that it is important and befitting that the day is commemorated annually by all citizens of the Republic in testimony of their allegiance and loyalty to the National Ensign, the embodiment of our national existence as a sovereign entity, and to encourage national pride and patriotism.

It notes that the making of the National Flag of Liberia was a historic event of great significance for Liberia as Africa’s pacesetter in the struggle for self-determination and inspiration to future African States.

The National Flag was designed and produced by a committee of ladies, led by Mrs. Susannah Lewis, who were talented and visionary citizens of the Republic at the time.

The Flag consists of six red stripes and five alternating white stripes, totaling eleven stripes, each representing one of the eleven signers of the Declaration of Independence of Liberia; a blue field, in the upper left corner of a rectangular form with a single white star in the center of the blue field, depicting Liberia as the then only independent state on the Continent of Africa; the color red symbolizes the blood of those who died in the struggle for independence; the color white indicates the purity of mind and lucidity of all our forbearers toward each other; and the blue for the dark Continent of Africa as it was then depicted.