More history in the making as Commonwealth flies high

News from our partners Shropshire Lieutenancy

More than 730 Commonwealth flags will be raised in locations throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK overseas territories and Commonwealth countries on Monday 9 March 2015 – Commonwealth Day 2015.

All the following will join in to raise raise more than 730 Commonwealth flags at 10am on Monday 9 March 2015 in a shared celebration of this amazing family of nations that encompasses the globe:-

• Heads of state and prime ministers
• Lord mayors and mayors
• Local councils
• Schoolpupils and college students
• Members of Girlguiding and Scouts from around the UK and Commonwealth
• Sea, Army, and air cadets
• Charities and community groups
• Commonwealth ex-service personnel and major shipping lines
• Many others around the world.

This unique initiative, now in its second year, is again catching the imagination of thousands of participants from all walks of life, inspiring them to join with others throughout the Commonwealth.  As a collective public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth, it enables participants to show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, and the opportunities offered for friendship and co-operation with fellow Commonwealth citizens around the world.

A special message of good wishes from Her Majesty The Queen to all those taking part will be read out to those attending the 730 individual flag raising events, before the raising of each flag that morning.

At 10am on Monday 9 March 2015, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Colonel Edmund Thewles and the Chairman of Shropshire Council, Malcolm Pate, will raise the Commonwealth flag during a ceremony at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

Telford and Wrekin Council will hold a flag raising ceremony at Addenbrooke House.  The public are welcome to observe the raising of the Commonwealth flag at both locations.

A personal message from His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and a specially written Commonwealth Affirmation, will be read out at each ceremony before the raising of the Commonwealth Flag at 10am.  In a common act of witness around the globe, members of this great family of nations will reaffirm the commitment of all Commonwealth member states to democracy, development, and respect for diversity.

In an imaginative international partnership charity teams from “Fields of Life”, a charity linking Northern Ireland and Uganda, will mark the day by taking the Commonwealth Flag to the tops of the four highest national peaks of the United Kingdom: Scafell Pike in England, Ben Nevis in Scotland, Mount Snowdon in Wales, and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland.  They will also raise the flag in five schools, one in each of the five regions of Uganda.  These endeavours will raise funds and awareness of their worthy cause.

For the first time, cadets from the Royal Air Force Air Cadets will be participating in “Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth.  Commonwealth flags will be flown by air cadets in each of the six regions of the Air Training Corps, especially as there are close ties between air cadets in the UK and cadets in other Commonwealth countries, and cadets will be proud to celebrate the values of the Commonwealth on 9 March.

Commonwealth Flags will be flown at many locations of special significance, including at six locations on the Island of the Republic of Malta; in Tristan Da Cunha, the most remote of the UK overseas territory; in St David’s in Pembrokeshire, the westernmost city in Wales; in Carlisle in Cumbria, the northernmost city in England; in Lowestoft in Suffolk, the easternmost town in England; in Unst in the Shetland Islands, the most northerly inhabited island in Scotland; at the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula; at the Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf; and at King Edward Point and on Bird Island in South Georgia.  The list of local flagraising ceremonies and imaginative locations continues to grow.

His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, said:

“Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth is a most imaginative way for people in local communities – wherever they live, learn or work – to join together with others throughout the Commonwealth in a spirit of respect and understanding to celebrate the variety and unmatched diversity of our global family.  I welcome and commend it.

“All our citizens, particularly the young, can express appreciation for the Commonwealth and the values for which it stands as set out in the Commonwealth Charter, and the rich opportunities it offers for mutual support towards more inclusive social and more equitable economic progress.”