All over the globe, from Jamaica to East Ayrshire, local authorities, community groups and charities have marked Commonwealth Day by taking part in the largest ever, single raising of the Commonwealth flag.
Not wanting to miss out on the celebrations, pupils from Gargieston Primary helped Depute Provost Claire Leitch and Councillor Douglas Reid to raise the Commonwealth flag, and P6 pupils Lucy and Adam read out the Commonwealth Affirmation – a speech on the shared values of the Commonwealth.
They said: “We affirm that every person possesses unique worth and dignity.
“We affirm our respect for nature, and that we will be stewards of the earth by caring for every part of it, and for it as a whole.
“We affirm our belief in justice for everyone, and peace among peoples and nations.
“Joining together in kinship and affinity, in diversity and unity, as members of a worldwide family of nations, we build on shared inheritances.
“We cooperate with mutual respect and goodwill to deliver a common future for the good of all.
“Through Commonwealth connection we learn from one another, and innovate to transform our communities, our nations and our world.”
This is the sixth year that ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ has been held throughout the British Isles and Commonwealth countries and around 1000 flags were raised at 10am local time on 9 March.
This year’s theme was ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’ which was chosen because the diverse family of 54 Commonwealth countries connect at many levels through extensive and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill.
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