Africa-Press – Angola. The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, watched, on Saturday morning, at 8:00 am, in the courtyard of the Military History Museum, in Luanda, the hoisting of the Monument Flag in honor of the Founder of the Nation, António Agostinho Neto, who completed, on this day, the birth centenary.
After watching the hoisting of the Monument Flag, the Head of State, who was accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, made a long visit to the collection of the Founder of the Nation on display at that Military History Museum. In the collection, you can find the speech made by Agostinho Neto, on the day of the proclamation of National Independence, the Renault-6 that he used in Congo Brazzaville, his pleasure boat used in the country, from 1977 to 1979, the BTR- 152, who transported the urn from 4 de Fevereiro International Airport to the People’s Palace, in addition to the Identity Card.
The ceremony, which is part of the celebrations for the centenary of Agostinho Neto’s birth, was attended by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, the President of the Constitutional Court, Laurinda Cardoso, the President of the Supreme Court, Joel Leonardo, the prosecutor General of the Republic, Hélder Pitta Grós, the widow of the Founder of the Nation, Maria Eugénia Neto, Roberto de Almeida, Neto’s cousin and president of the Sagrada Esperança Foundation, and several members of the Executive.
In brief statements to the press, Maria Eugénia Neto highlighted that the tribute paid to her husband by the Highest Magistrate of the Nation conveys the feeling that he will live forever. She said that one of the ways to make the future that Neto dreamed of for Angola come true is to transmit his dream to present generations.
“Neto wanted peace not only for Angola but also for all the peoples of the world and for the planet to be worthy of its children”, he recalls, stressing that Neto’s thoughts still continue to enlighten those who fight for just causes.
Érica Neto, one of the granddaughters of the Founder of the Nation, said that the tribute paid to her grandfather by the President of the Republic, on the day of the Christmas centenary, leaves the family very satisfied. 24 years old and carrying one of the most expressive legacies of her grandfather-the poetry-Érica Neto regrets the fact that she could not meet him in person. “It’s a shame I never met him, but I’m very happy for the work he’s done for the country,” she said.
Personal Secretary
Salvador Sebastião, who was Agostinho Neto’s private secretary, stressed that the tributes around the figure are well deserved. “He IS a person who has always dedicated himself to his Angolan people”, he stressed. Salvador Sebastião recalled, with nostalgia, that, due to the functions he performed, Agostinho Neto did not travel around the country and abroad without his presence. “It hurt me so much when I accompanied him to the Soviet Union, at the time, inside the clinic, to the door of the operating room”, he clarified.
Monument Flag
The Flag Monument is located in the courtyard of the Military History Museum, in Luanda, formerly known as Fortaleza de São Miguel. It measures 12 meters wide, 18 meters long and is supported by a mast 75 meters high. It was inaugurated within the framework of the commemorations of the 11th anniversary of the Day of Peace and National Reconciliation (4th of April) in homage to the Heroes of the Fatherland and to all those who have committed themselves to achieving National Independence, peace, progress and the development of the country.
The flag should only be flown 12 times a year and once a month at 8:00 am. The dates reserved for the hoisting of the Monument Flag are: 4th January, Day of the Martyrs of Colonial Repression (Downtown Kassanje), 4th February, date of the beginning of the Armed Struggle for National Liberation, 8th March, International Women’s Day, 4 April, Day of Peace and National Reconciliation, and 1 May, International Workers’ Day.
The flag must also be hoisted on May 25th, Africa Day, on the first Sundays of July, August and October, September 17th, Founder’s and National Hero’s Day, November 11th, National Independence Day, and December 25th, Christmas and Family Day.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
