This weekend marks the beginning of September, the time of the year when our patriotic ego is at its largest since we celebrate the two hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the Battle of St. Georges Caye on the tenth and thirty two years of Independence on the twenty first of September. As you’ve been aware, Raise your flag and Win with love, an initiative that started in 2006 to give a kick to the patriotic spirit by offering prizes for decorating homes, businesses, or individual items, will start its tour next week all over the nation. Over the past couple of weeks, we have been travelling to several towns to hoist banners, which indicate that it’s time to get patriotic and win with love. Today, we travelled to San Ignacio Town in the Cayo District where, according to Mayor John August, they’re one step closer to full fledge patriotic display
JOHN AUGUST, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“We are preparing and getting the town decorated and getting prepared for the upcoming celebrations; we have a lot activities planned.”
And he says that raise your flag definitely adds spice to the patriotic spirits, and that sentiment was also echoed by the Counselor in charge of Special Events, Shari Medina
JOHN AUGUST, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“Well I think it’s a wonderful initiative that’s happening; September is usually the month that we show patriotism and I really hope people will decorate their homes and businesses in this municipality especially and I think it’s a wonderful initiative being undertaken.”
SHARI MEDINA, Special Events Counselor, SISE Town Board
“It’s a very good thing; we’ve never really highlighted that here in the twin towns and I believe that if we can instill this in our children then they will be able to know why we have our own national flag, what it means to us and why we should be proud of who we are. Our flag hold so much meaning and I think that the Raise Your Flag competition that Love FM is doing is a great thing and I think that you guys have to continue doing this so that the younger generation can grow up with this in them and teach their children when they have their own.”
According to Mayor August, Cayo residents are very supportive of September initiatives and celebration and he hopes that their patriotism remains throughout the year
JOHN AUGUST, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“The people here in this municipality do come out and they do show their patriotism and they do show their support to the community. This is the month that we come out and as Belizeans this is the time we come out and show our love for our country; we have a blessed country; people from abroad come here and enjoy their time here and so, we as Belizeans need to come out and enjoy our time in Belize as well and show our patriotism.”
Top prizes for the competition this year include five hundred dollars-worth of groceries each month for a year in the house category, a computer and printer for the winning school and one month free advertisement on Love Television for winners in the business category. Residents of the town told Love News that they are excited and can’t wait for the Love Crew to come into San Ignacio and Santa Elena, so they can raise their flag and win with love.