Flag Day on Cole Bay Hill in 2019.
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of Flag Day on Saturday, June 13. The government of St. Maarten will be organising two official events to mark this day.
The Council of Ministers and invited dignitaries will attend the 35th Anniversary St. Maarten Flag Day Ceremony in front of the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg during the early hours – at 6:00am.
Due to the existing social-distancing protocols as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, only invited guests will attend this event. Some of the highlights of the celebration will be the raising of the St. Maarten flag, along with cultural performances.
Later, in the afternoon, the Council of Ministers will be calling on the entire community to show its solidarity and gratitude towards the front-liners, emergency responders and all individuals who in one way or another contributed to the successful containment and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Persons are asked to come out in large numbers on the roadsides within their neighbourhoods to express their gratitude and wave the St. Maarten flag as the “Flag Day Thank You Motorcade” makes its way through the districts, starting on Soualiga Boulevard at 2:00pm. Additional details of the route and vehicles that can join the motorcade will be shared in a follow-up press release later this week.
This year marks 35 years since the St. Maarten flag was designed by Roselle Richardson, presented by Claude Wathey, and approved and established by the then-sitting members of the Island Council on June 13, 1985. Since then, the flag remains an intricate part of the island’s historical and cultural heritage.
In the days leading up to the June 13 activities, persons and businesses in the community are asked to show their pride and patriotism by flying the St. Maarten flag on vehicles and buildings, or wherever they deem appropriate. Persons are reminded to follow proper protocol and etiquette of how the flag should be displayed.
