Amata petitions for U.S. to honor Flag Day with a Presidential Proclamation
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — This historic photo shows the flag raising in American Samoa in 1900, which is an official holiday in the Territory. However, if Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata’s request is granted by President Biden — American Samoa’s Flag Day, April 17th — will be honored on its special day yearly through a Presidential Proclamation, according to a press release.
Her request is a part of a bipartisan letter to the President this week signed by each of the five representatives of the territories asking the President to honor each of their territory’s on one special day yearly.
The letter states, “To celebrate our cultures, we ask that you consider the following local holidays as dates to be recognized by Presidential Proclamation: March 2nd, American Citizenship Day (Puerto Rico); March 24th, Covenant Day (Northern Mariana Islands); April 17th, Flag Day (American Samoa); July 3rd, Emancipation Day, (U.S. Virgin Islands); and July 21st, Liberation Day (Guam).”
The letter was led by Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (American Samoa), Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico), Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (US Virgin Islands), and Congressman Michael San Nicolas (Guam).
The letter concludes, “Each of these dates are significant to our respective territories, but they also mark moments of American history. Our cultures and histories are woven into the story of America, yet this truth is often overlooked. It is our hope that in the light of greater public awareness our constituents will be empowered to fight for racial equity. We hope you will join us in celebrating our cultures and help bring a deeper, richer understanding of American history into public view.”
American Samoa’s Flag Day is every April 17th, marking the day in 1900 that the U.S. flag was officially raised on Sogelau Hill in Fagatogo, Tutuila Island. The flag was raised in Manu’a four years later.
In celebration of April 17th, American Samoa’s own flag of the territory was also first officially adopted and raised on April 17, 1960. American Samoa included Samoan heritage and ties to the United States in the choice of its design and colors for the Territory’s flag.
Last year, Flag Day celebrations were muted due to COVID-19 restrictions in the territory. However, this year the Lemanu Administration has announced that Flag Day Celebrations will be held in all its ‘glory’ — with fautasi races once again highlighting the weeklong event.
How these celebrations will be affected by current events is unknown as of press time: A recent outbreak of border cases on the island-nation of Samoa has shut-down flights between the 2Samoas; while American Samoa continues to guard its own borders with a set quarantine period for all passengers that arrive from the U.S.