The Consul General of Haiti in Atlanta, Mr. Gandy Thomas during the day commemorating the 209th anniversary of the Haitian flag, delivered a patriotic speech.

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

[...] Friday, May 18 brought the 209th anniversary of the founding of the Haitian flag. During the ceremony held in Arcahaie, this Friday, May 18, the Haitian Head of State, His Excellency Michel Joseph Martelly, spoke of the 'needle of Catherine Flon, the heroine who sewed strips of fabric red and blue' which gave us the two-color of our prideand our dignity as human driven by a strong desire to end the barbarism of slavery.

The needle of Catherine Flon has at the same time, sewed the unity of this society of men determined to seek by the force of arms the way of FREEDOM...

The needle of Catherine Flon sewed also the commitments of each other to live in EQUALITY...

The needle of Catherine Flon has finally sewed the ideals of BROTHERHOOD among men who have made ​​a solemn oath not to live in subhuman conditions imposed by the slave system...

209 years later, the ideals of independence hero are still valid. The symbolism of May 18 impose us he requirement of unity as the royal road which must lead the country out of the rut of underdevelopment. The clarion call launched by the President Martelly fell in the middle of a situation marked by the determination of a new Government Martelly-Lamothe to engage and win, like our ancestors, the new battle for the political and economic freedom, for the equality of opportunities for all girls and son of the Haitian Nation, for the rotherhood among all Haitians in a perfect communion of dignity and grandeur.

Because, it is us, the ruling elites, who must lead the battle and emerge victorious of the battles. Because it will be the victory of the People. This People expect a lot from us. We must 'deliver', give the results expected. It is necessary that the people found. Our struggle is the struggle of the people. Its struggle is ours. United to the people, we can not, not winning the battle against the dark forces of reaction. We can not, not winning the battle for the establishment of a stable macroeconomic framework and a policy of free education for all.

Vive the Haitian Flag !

Vive the Haitian People !"

HL/ HaitiLibre