National Flag Of Canada Day

Parry Sound-Muskoka M.P., the Honourable Andy Mitchell, encourages residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka to celebrate Flag Day on February 15, 2004.

"Flag Day is a celebration of our shared values and sense of belonging to a great land that is enriched by cultural, linguistic and geographic diversity,” said Mr. Mitchell. In this way, our flag belongs to us all. It is a visible reminder that we are all part of the larger Canadian family.

It was on a cold, blustery day 39 years ago that Canada's distinctive red and white maple leaf flag was first raised over Parliament Hill in Ottawa and in hundreds of communities, large and small, across the country.

National Flag of Canada Day is a time for each and every one of us to look back and pay homage to the men and women who worked diligently to give our country a flag that we could finally and truly call our own – people like the late Honourable George F.G. Stanley, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and Member of Parliament John Matheson.

It is also an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to ensuring that Canada continues to play its role in history with quiet dignity and a sense of purpose that is so much part of the 'Canadian way'.

As Dr. Stanley stated, "A flag is more than a means of identification. It is the embodiment of what a country stands for: it is the symbol of the ethos or spirit of a people, its hopes, its aspirations, its will to live and its determination to play its role in history. In its simplistic beauty, our flag says 'Canada' to us and to the world."

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About The Author:

Danette Gerronazo is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-flags.com. The flags of the world are symbols of recognition full of beauty and color for each country.