Watford Borough Council joined organisations and groups worldwide at 10am on Monday, March 8 to celebrate Commonwealth Day as part of the ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ initiative.
Now in its seventh year, the Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth initiative has caught the imagination of thousands of participants from all walks of life, and this year there are dual celebrations on March 8, when both Commonwealth Day and International Women’s Day take place.
As a collective public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth, it enables participants to show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, and the opportunities offered for friendship and cooperation with fellow Commonwealth citizens of all ages around the world.
The council also supported the Commonwealth’s social media campaign #SheLeadsTheWay, providing an opportunity for audiences to recognise women leaders across the Commonwealth, during COVID-19 and beyond including key female figures in Watford. You can follow the posts on facebook.com/watfordcouncil/ and twitter.com/WatfordCouncil.
The flag raised by the first-ever female Polish-born Chairman of Watford Borough Council, Councillor Aga Dychton, was one of more than a thousand hoisted by groups as diverse as local authorities, charities, Sea and Air Cadets, scout and guide groups, ex-Servicemen and major shipping lines in a shared celebration of this amazing family of nations that encompasses the globe.
Speaking of the Commonwealth flag raising, Cllr Aga Dycthon said: “It is important that we celebrate the shared history, cultural links and people from the Commonwealth. Watford is enriched by its diversity from the Commonwealth, Europe and the wider world. It is something that we can be proud of and makes our town stronger.”
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland QC, said: “This year particularly is vitally important for the Commonwealth, as our member countries and communities face multiple interconnected global crises, including a horrific pandemic, a worldwide economic crisis and the continuing threat of climate change.
“It is during such times of challenge that we must uphold ever more resolutely our shared values, commitment to cooperation, and unique sense of connection. As a family of nations, we have the opportunity through mutual support and encouragement to overcome the issues we face together by connecting, innovating and transforming to deliver a brighter, more prosperous, more sustainable future for all.”
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