Previous Story
For the first time, NMI flag is raised at National Museum of American History
For the first time, the CNMI flag was raised at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. during Flag Day last Tuesday, June 14.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said in his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend that the CNMI flag was raised along with those of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Sablan said the insular area flags join those of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico displayed around the museum at the the National Mall.
It was Sablan who initiated the request for inclusion of the insular flags last year. Dr. Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s director, approved the request.
According to the delegate, Hartig stated during Tuesday’s ceremony that this display has been incomplete for 60 years and now they are acting “to right that wrong.”
Sablan said the inclusion of the Marianas in federal law and programs has been the principal theme of his tenure. He said the symbolic inclusion and recognition of the people of the Marianas as part of the American family is also important.
He said he pushed for legislation 10 years ago to require that the Marianas flag be displayed in U.S. military bases wherever the flags of the 50 states are flown.
“Now our flag is flying at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History for the millions of Americans who visit Washington each year to see,” Sablan said.
Aside from Sablan and Hartig, those who attended the symbolic flag raising around the perimeter of the museum, were Guam Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, Guam Delegate Michael San Nicolas, American Samoa Attorney General Fainuulelei Utu, U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett, and CNMI Office of Planning and Development director Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong.
