Aruk Sambas, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) - An army officer stated that personnel stationed at the West Kalimantan border post distributed 500 Red-and-White flags to households near the Indonesia-Malaysia border area.
Village Supervisory Non-commissioned Officer (Babinsa) Second Sergeant Diyanto remarked that the flags would be hoisted in August to enliven the celebration of the 79th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day.
The families that received the flags on Saturday, July 27, would hoist them in front of their houses near the Aruk Integrated Cross-Border Post (PLBN) in Sajingan Besar Sub-district, Sambas District, he noted.
Diyanto stated that the flag hoisting reflects a sense of nationalism and respect of the Indonesian families near the border area for Indonesia's heroes and heroines who had fought for the country's independence.
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Diyanto stated in Aruk over the weekend that in addition to distributing 500 Red-and-White flags, the army personnel also donated Kalimantan's 111 ironwood trees, locally called "Ulin," and 20 Orange trees to the families.
He stated that the families would plant the trees near the PLBN Aruk area while adding that various competitions and positive activities would enliven this year's Independence Day celebration.
To this end, young locals would be involved to keep them busy with positive activities amid ongoing threats of promiscuity and illicit drugs.
"Let us celebrate our independence with our young people's achievements as part of our endeavors to achieve the goals of the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision," Diyanto stated.
Speaking in connection with this year's Independence Day, President Joko Widodo stated earlier that the flag-hoisting ceremonies would take place in Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan and Jakarta.
To this end, President Widodo will lead the ceremony in Nusantara, while Vice President Ma'ruf Amin will lead it in Jakarta, Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy stated in Jakarta on Monday, June 10.
Indonesia declared its independence on August 17, 1945, or shortly after Japan's surrender to the US-led allied forces of World War II. The independence was declared by the nation's founding fathers, Soekarno and Hatta, in Jakarta.
