Ross Town Council will once again be holding a Fly a Flag Ceremony for Commonwealth Day on Monday, March 12th at the Market Place.

Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth Day provides an opportunity every year for people from all walks of life to join with others in their local community to celebrate Commonwealth Day in association with fellow citizens throughout the worldwide family. People from nations and territories in every continent and ocean cherish the rich diversity of this membership, the deep sense of affinity and kinship that is shared, and the Commonwealth values and principles that unite them.

Almost 2.5 billion people, a third of the world’s population make up the Commonwealth. In working together in practical ways in local communities, and by interacting and cooperating across national boundaries, people can build and sustain a more strongly connected Commonwealth that is mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous and that cherishes equality of opportunity and inclusiveness.

Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth is an occasion to acknowledge publicly and collectively the continuing aspiration of the Commonwealth to build on common traditions and uphold shared values of democracy, inclusive development and respect for diversity. Local and national flag raising ceremonies in school yards, on village greens, in town squares, and on mountaintops and beaches, bring greater understanding and appreciation of the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter - to which the governments of all Commonwealth countries subscribe, and to which each of us individually as Commonwealth citizens can recommit ourselves on Commonwealth Day.

This year London is the host venue for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April and leaders will be working to address common challenges and focus on delivering a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fairer future.

There has been a national agenda of activity arranged since November with the launch on social media, through to Commonwealth Big Lunches.

Mayor Nigel Gibbs said: “We hope that as many people as can, will join together and become part of the global celebrations and in marking a Commonwealth with a strong and vibrant future.”

The flag will be raised at 10.00 a.m. and all are welcome to join the gathering in the Market Square from 9.45 onwards.