Burnham-On-Sea will be marking Commonwealth Day on Monday (9th March) with a civic flag-raising ceremony.
Burnham’s Mayor is inviting residents and town centre workers to join him from 9.30am at the town flag pole at the end of the High Street and Abingdon Street to share in the celebration of the family of Commonwealth nations around the globe.
The event will start with the arrival of the Mayor and Mayoress at 9.35am, followed at 9.40am by the Mayor’s welcoming speech. At 9.45am there will be a short prayer and blessing, and at 9.50am the reading of a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth will take place by students from King Alfred School.
A reading of the Queen’s message by Cllr Neville Jones will be made at 9.55am, along with a reading of the Commonwealth Affirmation by the Mayor’s Cadet. At 10.00am, the raising of the Commonwealth flag will proceed, accompanied by the Commonwealth Anthem.
“This unique initiative enables participants to show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, and the opportunities offered for friendship and co-operation with fellow Commonwealth citizens around the world,” said the Mayor.
Burnham-On-Sea will be among 730 locations around the world where individual flag raising events will be held, joining thousands of other young people around the Commonwealth to celebrate and the launch of this year’s special theme ‘a young Commonwealth’.
A personal message from His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and a specially written Commonwealth Affirmation, will be read out at the ceremony.
