President Jokowi Leads Independence Day Flag-Lowering Ceremony at Merdeka Palace

President Jokowi leads the flag-lowering ceremony at the commemoration of Indonesia’s Independence Day at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (08/17). (Photo: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Jay)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Wednesday (08/17), led a flag-lowering ceremony to conclude the Commemoration of the 77th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence.

The ceremony was commenced with the sounding of the first trumpet, then the ceremonial troops entered the courtyard of Merdeka Palace.

Afterwards, President Jokowi and First Lady Ibu Iriana Jokowi and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and his spouse Ibu Wury Ma’ruf Amin entered the ceremony venue.

After that, the ceremonial commander, Colonel Agni Prayogo, saluted President Jokowi as the ceremony inspector and reported that the ceremony was ready to begin.

The Pancasila Sakti team from the national flag-hoisting troops then carried out their duties to lower the flag. The chanting of the National Anthem of Indonesia Raya accompanied the procession of lowering the national flag.

Once it was lowered, the flag bearer handed over the national flag to the ceremonial inspector.

Concluding the series of Independence Day commemoration events, the ceremonial commander reported to the inspector that the flag-lowering ceremony had been completed.

After taking the salute from participants of the ceremony, the President left the venue, followed by Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, the Vice President, and Ibu Wury Ma’ruf Amin.

The event continued with the cultural procession of returning the duplicate of the national flag and the proclamation manuscript from Merdeka Palace to the National Monument.

The duplicate of the national flag and the proclamation text were brought by Retd. National Flag Hoisting Troop  Pancasila Ambassadors (Purna Paskibraka Indonesia Duta Pancasila) on the Ki Jaga Rasa Chariot to the Independence Room inside the monument.  (FID/UN) (YC/DH)