Play AudioAmerika-samoa
Europa Fakaofo and Faatumu Leaoa of Alofau Elementary singing the anthem of American Samoa, “Amerika Samoa.” The 2023 Flag Day celebration goes down in the books as one of the wettest in recent history.
The rain held off during the flag raising ceremony and parade, then the cloud cover opened up when the ava ceremony was starting.
In his Flag Day address, Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga said he and Lt. Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale took office at a difficult time, a reference to the scaled down Flag Day celebrations due to the COVID pandemic, and they were unable to pay tribute to the forefathers—whose wisdom and foresight has resulted in the benefits that American Samoa enjoys to this day.
Quoting the motto of the first Samoan Bishop of the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago, “O le alofa e fai taulaga, Love is sacrifice,” Lemanu said it was the sacrifice of our ancestors that has brought our people countless blessings all these years. He added that we should never forget to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness to American Samoa.
Play AudioLemanu-Flag-Day
The part of the Governor’s speech which received applause was at the end, when he announced that tomorrow is an ASG holiday. Lemanu said tomorrow will be a Family Day. He said it’s not a day off for the father to get drunk or the mother to play bingo, but a holiday for the whole family.
Twenty-two Army recruits were sworn in with Sgt. First Class Shaun Salanoa administering their oath.
VIP guests included Samoa’s Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Masiofo Faamausili; John Brewer, Director of the Office of Insular Affairs; Rear Admiral Deputy Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Blake Converse; Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio; Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata; and local government leaders from all three branches of government.
Since this was the first post-pandemic Flag Day celebration for the Lemanu Talauega administration, today’s parade was a big one—with an estimated 200 groups participating. All government departments and authorities marched, along with schools, sports teams and companies.
An added feature were the high school bands and the US Marine Band.
There was a torrential downpour as chiefs from all the districts sat on the malae for the ava ceremony, and the ceremony was abbreviated.
The rains continued when the first entertaining group, the Catholic Youth, were on the malae and the Chairman of the Diocese, Senator Faiivae Ale Iuli, gave the traditional greetings.
The youth seemed oblivious to the rain and performed without a flinch going through their full program of pese and siva, which they spent the last two months rehearsing.
When it was time for the taualuga, the stadium track and the front portion of the field—where the main taupou and aiaiuli usually dance—had collected a couple of inches of rain.
The new Bishop of the Diocese, Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao, was joined by outgoing Bishop Peter Brown, priests, and deacons for the taualuga.
Despite the rain, Governor Lemanu and First Lady Ella and other VIPs came down from their grandstand seats for the taualuga.
The Methodist Youth were performing at the time of this news bulletin. They will be followed by the CCCAS Youth.
