President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, March 15, 2016, the 207^th birth anniversary of Liberia’s first President Joseph Jenkins Roberts as a National Holiday,to be observed throughout the Republic.

A Foreign Ministry release says the President’s Proclamation is in consonance with an Act passed by the Forty-Second (42^nd) Legislature during its Third Session which, in recognition of the first President of the Republic of Liberia, declared March 15 of every year a National Holiday as a mark of respect and reverence to his memory and for his untiring efforts in organizing the first Government of the Republic as well as negotiating and concluding treaties with Foreign Powers which gave recognition to the founding of the Liberian Nation.

The Liberian leader, in her Proclamation, indicated that it is befitting that such honor accorded the memory of this distinguished Statesman serves as a challenge to all Liberians to aspire to higher and noble endeavors by emulating his courage, endurance, selflessness and commitment to the principles and ideals of democracy as portrayed in his works and life as Liberia’s first President.

The Proclamation orders that all Government offices, public buildings and business houses be closed on the day.