Each year on May 18th, the Haitian people celebrate an important national holiday, Haitian Flag Day, the anniversary of the date of the Haitian flag's adoption in 1803. The country’s motto, L'Union fait la Force (translated as, “with Unity there is Strength”), dates back to the creation of the National Plan and is said to be the cornerstone of Haitian beliefs. The country-wide celebration of Flag Day is a demonstration of the great pride Haitians hold of their heritage as the only country where slave freedom was taken by force, and marks the only successful slave revolt in modern times.
To honor this important milestone in Haiti’s independence, in the northern city of Port-de-Paix the students of Charles Solomon School actively participate in the Flag Day Parade each year. Costumes the color of the Haitian flag are created, along with lively dance routines which students from Pre-K through 9th Grade practice for weeks to perform in the parade. The Charles Solomon School is primarily funded by Healing Art Missions’ (HAM) as part of our commitment to provide resources and funding to communities that lack access to basic resources, such as healthcare, education, employment, and clean drinking water. Haitians have great pride in their country, and participation in the annual parade provides students an active way to connect with their history and show their love of country. Lead every year by the school’s founder and the eye technician at HAM’s Dumay Clinic, Jean Herard Charles, over 350 of the school’s students participate in the parade in costume performing dances and songs to honor their hard-won freedom.
The first Haitian flag was created during the Arcahaie Congress, Dessalines, on May 18, 1803. By removing the white band from the French flag, which was used in Haiti during the French rule, and thereby creates the first Haitian flag, symbol of the alliance of blacks and mulattos in their fight for freedom.
