The Tribune

FLAG Day celebrations are a time for national unity and patriotism, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said. The nation's chief also spoke to students at St Bede's Primary School of the significance of the Bahamian flag at a Flag Day ceremony. He stressed the importance of knowing Bahamian history and culture and respecting national symbols. "Celebrating Flay Day is meant to promote national unity, encourage national pride, and develop greater patriotism in terms of respect for national symbols. When you look at the flag, you should get a feeling of pride about being distinctly Bahamian and loving it. "This flag belongs to you. It represents you. It represents your parents and grandparents. In treating the flag with respect, you are showing respect for others as well as yourselves. "When you pledge allegiance to the flag, you are promising to love, be loyal and faithful to our country, and to work always to make it even better for all our citizens," said Mr Ingraham. The prime minister gave the students a brief history lesson about the days before Independence and before the Bahamas had its own flag. He said that before the country became independent in 1973, the Bahamas - then a British colony - had to celebrate the flag of Great Britain. Now the country is fortunate to have its own national symbols to cherish and protect, he said. "Blessed by a beautiful geography and free from war and civil strife, the Bahamas is the envy of many countries. We must never become puffed up because of this. Instead, we must work harder to protect what we have. "Today as you celebrate Flag Day, remember not just to admire the beautiful colours of our flag but to also remember the beauty of our country and all the blessings we enjoy. "Our Flag Day is a day for gratitude and a day for appreciation, and a day to be proud and show our pride in being Bahamian. "In famous words spoken by others, Flag Day should remind us not of what our country can do for us, but rather what we can do for our country," said Mr Ingraham.