NordenBladet —
President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar welcomed the initiative of the school students. “It is only natural that in the only country in the world where the very first, original flag still exists, schoolchildren form an association of flag guard teams and thus promote our flag culture to even greater heights,” the President of the Riigikogu said.
The initiator of the idea to form the Association, final year pupil of Tallinn School No. 21 Ernst Johannes Pae said at the founding ceremony that the most important purpose of the Association was to promote flag culture in schools, and it was necessary that this process was led by young people themselves. “When they hold the most important symbol of Estonia, the blue, black and white flag, in their hands, students can feel the historical significance of this flag. In this way, we can contribute to the continuity of the symbols of the Estonian state,” Pae said.
The motto of the Association of Flag Guards of Estonian Schools is ‘Vexillum signum libertatis’ (‘Flag is the symbol of freedom’).
The task of the flag guards team of a school is to ceremonially carry and raise the school flag and the flag of Estonia at various ceremonies and days of national importance, both at school and at various public events. The flag guard teams follow a strict code of etiquette and symbolise the dignity of the school and the country, and carry on traditions.
One of the aims of the newly created association is to train new flag guard teams and to help school flag guard teams raise equipment and funds.
The Association of Flag Guards of Estonian Schools was founded by the flag guard teams of Gustav Adolf Grammar School, Kadriorg German Gymnasium, Kohtla-Järve Gymnasium, Tallinn Mustamäe State Upper Secondary School, Tallinn English College, Tallinn French School, Tallinn Secondary School of Science, Tallinn Co-education Gymnasium, Tallinn School No. 21 and Jakob Westholm Gymnasium.
Photo gallery of the founding ceremony (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu, the gallery will be updated)
Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Keeping Estonia’s flag culture alive is important for young people
Source: Parliament of Estonia