Antiguans and Barbudans will be coming together in a big way to celebrate the inaugural National Flag Day on July 2, 2024, the birthday of our flag’s designer, Sir Reginald Samuel.
Mr Alister Thomas, a protégé and close friend of Sir Reg’s, tells the wonderful story of our flag, and he is determined that the designer should be properly honoured and lauded. Hence, his idea for a National Flag Day on Sir Reginald’s birthday.
In 1966, Sir Reg designed the most beautiful and inspiring flag in the world, with the seven-point golden sun symbolizing the dawn of a new era; red symbolizing the blood of our enslaved ancestors and the energy and strength of our people; and black symbolizing our resilient race – our African ancestry. The golden sun shining down on our azure seas and our lovely white-sand beaches, will forever thrill our hearts, exhorting us to be good stewards of our environment, our heritage.
May we continue to be inspired by our flag. May we continue to cherish the life and legacy of our dearest Sir Reginald Samuel – an extraordinary sportsmaster, sports administrator, teacher of Art, Spanish and English Language, among other subjects, an artist and sculptor whose work also includes the eye-catching sculpture at the entrance to the State Insurance Department on Redcliffe Street, and the iconic statue of King Court at the Memorial Park on Independence Avenue.
Happy birthday, Sir Reginald Samuel! Our national treasure!