Newport to raise the flag to the Commonwealth
Posted on Friday 6th March 2015
Newport City Council will join a shared celebration of the "family of nations" when it raises the Commonwealth flag on Monday 9 March at the Civic Centre.
Heads of state and prime ministers, mayors, school children, guides and scouts will be among those raising hundreds of flags on Commonwealth Day 2015.
A special message of good wishes from Her Majesty the Queen will be read out to all those attending the events around the world, an initiative which is now in its second year.
Newport will hold its Commonwealth flag raising and blessing at 11am outside the main entrance of the Civic Centre.
The service will be led by the mayor's chaplain, Reverend Canon Andrew Willie, and the Lord Lieutenant for Gwent, Simon Boyle, will read out the message from the Queen. The Mayor, Councillor Matthew Evans, will read a message from Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, followed by a specially written Commonwealth affirmation,
Phil Taylor, of the Royal Welsh Comrades, will then raise the flag.
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."