Half a flag

Timoci Gaunavinaka,

Nausori

A flag is the ultimate symbol of a nation.

When I was a Class 8 student in Noco, Rewa, I recall raising our Fijian flag at every school assembly.

I remember what knot to tie so the flag is released at the top of the flagpole, when to pull the rope after it has been raised up slowly to the beat of the lali while the whole school stood in attention and the rhythm of the lali as two students beat it.

We learned and did those things in those days.

Many of our soldiers have died serving under this banner.

Just seven months ago, many of us cried when it was raised in Rio to the tune of our national anthem.

When our Rio heroes arrived, we raised

it proudly from the airport to all the towns, cities, villages and settlements around the country in celebration.

As a child, I was taught that we only fly our flag at half mast on the death of a very high chief, the Queen, the Governor General or the Prime Minister.

But for the past few weeks, I have been watching a “Half Fiji Flag” flown at full mast at the Housing Authority head office in Valelevu, Nasinu.

With curiosity, I asked my friend Cua, that with all that millions of dollars the Housing Authority makes, they still counldn’t buy a simple replacement flag instead of flying a torn one.

He argued that the flag may have been torn by Cyclone Winston and was still deliberately flown to show our resilience, to remind us of those who suffered so much and some who had lost loved ones.

If that is true then we are one unique nation.

Timoci Gaunavinaka will receive a Fiji Sun-engraved parker pen.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj