On the morning of March 23rd, the flag-raising ceremony - a solemn and sacred ceremony within the framework of the Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon Championship 2021 - took place at the Dai Doan Ket Square, Pleiku city.

After the organizers and delegates offered incense at the monument of President Ho Chi Minh, the national flag was solemnly carried to the rostrum area by the armed forces of Gia Lai province.

The national flag of Vietnam featuring a yellow five-pointed star on a red background is a sacred symbol of the Vietnam Fatherland. Solemnly hanging the national flag is one of the highest expressions of national affirmation and self-respect; as well as an expression of patriotism and national solidarity. 

According to the organizers, the reason why the Solidarity Square is chosen to be the location to raise the national flag is that this is the place where the Congress of Southern Ethnic Minorities took place, which marks the solidarity and the common roots of the great family of Vietnamese ethnic groups 75 years ago. 

This is also the location where the statue of Uncle Ho with Central Highlands ethnic groups is located, with a special stone slab engraved the full text off Uncle Ho’s letter to the Congress of Southern Ethnic Minorities on April 19th, 1946. In the letter, there is a passage that says: “…The Kinh, Tho, Muong, Man, Gia Rai, E De, Xe Dang, Ba Na, or other minorities are all Vietnamese descendants, and blood brothers. We will live, die, enjoy happiness, and suffer misery together, and help one another. Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode but our solidarity never diminishes”.

After the flag-raising ceremony, activities to honor the national flag took place at Solidarity Square. The 300 square meter flag was spread on the square to raise the spirit of solidarity and sense of responsibility towards the homeland of athletes participating in this year’s Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon Championship.

The flag-raising and honoring the national flag activity is an indispensable sacred ceremony in all competitions of the Tien Phong Newspaper National Marathon Championship./.

VNA