President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared Wednesday, July 26, 2017, as Liberia’s “Independence Day” to be observed throughout the country as a National Holiday.

Under the “Patriotic and Cultural Observances Law”, Title 26, Liberian Code of Laws of 1956, July 26^th, each year, is set aside as a public holiday to be known as “Independence Day” and appropriately celebrated.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the official festive celebration of the Day will be observed in the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County under the theme: “Sustaining the Peace”.

The Liberian leader is calling upon all citizens of the Republic, and all foreign residents within our borders to observe the day; and has directed that all Government offices and business houses be closed on this day from six o’clock ante meridian to six o’clock post meridian.

President Sirleaf, in the proclamation, is requesting all citizens in solemn cooperation with all prelates, priests, deacons, evangelists, imams, elders and other members of the sacerdotal order, regardless of religious creed, to gather together with one purpose in their respective places of worship in each city, town village, hamlet, home, especially in the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County on Friday, July 21, 2017 and Sunday, July 23, 2017, and offer thanks and praises to God for his blessings showered upon us in past and present times, and beseech him for his continuing goodness and beneficence towards all peoples and nations of the earth, especially, the people of the Republic of Liberia.

The Liberian president, in the proclamation, further noted that in his infinite goodness and mercy, God has blessed and prospered the work of the minds, hearts and hands of all the people of the Republic of Liberia from July, 1847, when this nation was declared a free, sovereign and independent State, and from thence, through the years of our national life, manifold and varied, have been the experiences of the nation and its people, who, through it all, have been able to forge their way by dint of perseverance, devotion, and courage.

She reflected that after due deliberations on the future of the “Settlements” and facing colonial challenges and threats, the founding fathers did publish to the world that historic and immortal instrument known as the Declaration of Independence, by which the Commonwealth of Liberia became, and was presented to the comity of nations as a free, sovereign and independent state, thereby warding off encroachment from any colonial power, and becoming the first independent African republic.

President Sirleaf stressed that it is meek, right and our binding duty, in grateful recognition of the blessings and miraculous deliverances which His Almighty hand has extended to us as a Nation and State, although we have been most unworthy of them, to give thanks, adoration and praise unto Him for saving the State and to commemorate the brave and timely decision of our forebears on July 26^th, 1847.