Prabowo praises orderly flag-lowering ceremony for Indonesia's 81st Independence Day

President Prabowo Subianto expressed appreciation for the orderly and solemn flag-lowering ceremony of the Red and White national flag held in commemoration of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day at the Merdeka Palace courtyard in Jakarta on Sunday afternoon.

“Thank you for the orderly and solemn ceremony. Ceremony commander, corps of music commander, and all unit commanders, face me, continue, carry on,” said Prabowo.

The appreciation was conveyed by the President to the ceremony commander after receiving the report that the ceremony had been completed. The President received back the Red and White national flag following the lowering procession of the heirloom flag.

When the flag was handed over by the baki bearer, Prabowo briefly kissed the flag before expressing his gratitude to the ceremony commanders.

The President acted as the ceremony inspector in the procession. The Heirloom Flag Hoisting Troop (Paskibraka) had earlier formed the number 81 as the flag was lowered, marking Indonesia’s 81st year of independence.

The flag-lowering ceremony was led by the commander of group 17, Baruno Wicaksono, a student from Taruna Nusantara High School Cimahi Campus, West Java, son of Setiari Marwanto and Sumartini.

The Red and White flag was carried down by baki bearer Neeltje Deliana Insjowi Werimon, a student of SMA Negeri 8 Jayapura from Papua, daughter of Aiwoisendin Hendrik Werimon and Steffi Edithya Florence Awom. The reserve baki position was filled by Ismi Ulfaidah, a student of Sekolah Rakyat Terintegrasi 22 Polewali Mandar from West Sulawesi, daughter of Rahman and Suburia.

After conveying his appreciation to the ceremony commanders, the flag-lowering sequence continued with the procession of the Garuda Prabayeksa heirloom carriage carrying the Red and White national flag and the proclamation text manuscript towards the National Monument, accompanied by musical performances from the joint TNI-Polri drum band.