HCP and the City of Brockton celebrated the 219th Anniversary of the Haitian Flag. Haitian Flag Day commemorates the creation of Haitian Flag and was adopted on May 18, 1803 on the last day of the Congress of Arcahaie. The congress was a meeting that had two key outcomes: the establishment of a united command of the revolutionary army under the supreme authority of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and the adoption of a flag by the indigenous army. Jean-Jacques Dessalines created the flag by taking a French tricolour and ripping out the white centre. His goddaughter, Catherine Flon, sewed the remaining horizontal bands together – the tricolour became the bi-colour. The blue in the Haitian flag is said to represent the Haiti’s African residents and red represented those of mixed European and African descent – the Gens de Couleur (French for ‘people of colour’).
The coat of arms depicts a trophy of weapons atop a green hill and a royal palm symbolizing independence. The palm is topped by the Cap of Liberty. In addition to the colors and coat of arms on the flag changing throughout history, the motto on the flag changed several times as well. Other mottos have included “Unity Makes Strength”, “Our Unity Will be Our Strength”, and “Freedom or Death”. The latter motto was adopted from the French Revolution and was likely on the original French flag created by Dessalines. The motto L’Union fait la Force (“Unity Makes Strength”) appears on a white ribbon below the arrangement.
The flag has been changed several times over the intervening years. The bands became vertical in 1804. A red and black variation has also been in use more than once. The current flag was adopted on February 17, 1986, after the departure of Jean-Claude Duvalier, and was ratified a year later by the official adoption of the March 29, 1987, Constitution. The creation of the original flag was a seminal moment in Haiti’s nationhood and was soon celebrated each year on May 18th. The government added Universities Day in 1919 as part of the celebrations. Highlighting the educational system was seen as important by the government as they saw the educational system was under threat due to the U.S. occupation of Haiti that started in 1915.
HCP President Marline Amedee gives her remarks during the celebration and raising of the flag,
Mayor Robert F. Sullivan celebrates the day and officiates the formal raising of the Haitian flag,
Tony Branch interim HCP Director enjoys a laugh at the Flag Day ceremony.
An awesome singing performance by children of Haitian descent living in Brockton.
Southeastern Vocational High School senior gives an awesome and unforgettable speech.