123rd Flag Day festivities culminate today with traditional flag raising

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The official flag raising ceremony for the 2023 Flag Day, marking the 123 years since American Samoa became part of the U.S. family gets underway after 7a.m today, with Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga delivering his Flag Day address at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

This year’s theme is “Unity Blesses the Nation” or in Samoan, “E Manuia le Atunu’u i le Galulue Faatasi” and this is the first full-fledged Flag Day celebration since 2019, due to COVID-19 restrictions the last three years.

“[W]e celebrate our longstanding union with the United States of America and uphold the legacy of our Forefathers in establishing a firm foundation for our government; we affirm that we continue to honor this legacy with our Flag Day theme of ‘Unity Blesses the Nation’,” said Lemanu in his 2023 Flag Day Proclamation.

And in celebration of Flag Day, the governor — in an Apr. 14th memorandum — directed that all ASG departments, agencies, and offices will participate in a march at the opening of the Flag Day activities and participants were to report at the staging area around 5:30a.m.

Today has already been declared a government holiday with all ASG offices closed. and the governor has directed all directors and deputy directors to take part in the Flag Day ceremony, including the post activities.

A last minute change to the program was made over the weekend.  The “Savavali Faatasi” Parade (“Walking Together”) that was scheduled for 3p.m. last Saturday, was canceled by the committee due to the weather and safety concerns. However, all High School Bands, the US Marine Forces Band and the Floats will attend the Flag Day Parade today.

According to today’s program all invited guests are to be seated at 6:15a.m with all organizations forming up on the stadium malae. VIPs will begin to arrival thereafter, along with Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, Fono leaders, Chief Justice Micheal Kruse and Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata.

Off island VIPs on the program include: Samoa Head of State Tuimalealiifano V. Sualauvi; Rear Admiral Blake L. Converse, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and John Brewer of the U.S Department of Interior.

The governor is scheduled to arrive at the stadium by 7a.m. as the program moves forward with the governor’s inspection of the honor guard, welcoming remarks by Deputy Secretary of Samoan Affairs Tauese V. Sunia and opening prayer by Bishop Peter Brown.

If all goes according to the program, the official flag raising starts at 7:20a.m. with the United States Flag and the American Samoa Flag along with the respective national anthems.

The governor’s Flag Day address is scheduled to be delivered at 7:30a.m. followed by the pass in review parade. An Ava Ceremony follows at 9a.m.

Three traditional performances are set for the celebration starting with the  Dioceses of Samoa Pago Pago, followed by the Methodist Synod of American Samoa and at 1p.m. is the performance by the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa.

Lt. Gov.Talauega will deliver closing remarks at 2:45 followed by prizes for the various Flag Day events including the fautasi race.

The 2023 Flag Day ceremony officially closes at 5p.m.