Importance of Flag Day

7th December every year is celebrated as Armed Forces Flag Day throughout the country.  The day is intended to honour the valiant & martyred, to salute the veterans and to renew solidarity of citizens with our brave service personnel.

The Day is named as Armed Forces Flag Day, because on this day a fund is collected by sale of special flags and stickers.  The Armed Forces Flag Day has now become an old and honoured Annual feature of our National life.

Many brave and gallant heroes from the Army, Navy and Air Force have laid down their lives while defending the country and they continue to do so and would also do so in the future.  Many lives were also lost during the Indo-Pak Conflict 1965 and 1971, Chinese Aggression 1962, Kargil War 1998 and also in subsequent insurgency operations.  As per the available data the martyred soldiers  in various operations from the day our Country gained independence in 1947 is as under :-

These wars and operations have left many broken homes without a bread winner. A large number of service personnel have become disabled, imposing severe handicaps of their capacity to maintain themselves and to support their families.  The Flag Day brings to the forefront, our obligation of looking after the war widows, the war disabled and the dependents of those who have sacrificed their today for our better tomorrow.

FLAG DAY AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN INDIA

“Armistice Day” after World War I was being celebrated on 11th November of every year.  It was also the “POPPY DAY” because, on this day, tokens of poppies were sold to the public and the amount so collected used for the welfare of War Veterans and their families.  As this date became in appropriate after Independence, the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, decided on 28 August 1949 that from 1949 onwards, the Flag Day would be observed on 7th December, each year to honour the valiant, the martyred, to salute the brave veterans and to enhance the traditional bonds that exist between citizens of the country and Armed Forces Flag Day. This Day has now become an old and honoured annual feature of our national life.  It is on this day that the services rendered by personnel of Army, navy and Air Force are remembered.  The day is used to enlist the public co-operation and support for three basic purposes

• Rehabilitation of families of battle casualties
• Welfare of serving personnel and their families
• Resettlement and welfare of Ex-servicemen  and their families in general.

On this day citizens and volunteer organizations collect donations in exchange of token flags and car stickers throughout the country.  Concerted efforts are made on this day to raise collection from the public.  The significance of the Day is brought home to the potential donors in a variety of ways. The Flag Day message from H.E. the Governor of Andhra Pradesh was displayed through media to step up collections.  We get the major chunk of donations / contributions from Non Gazetted Officers of Andhra Pradesh and from Gazetted Officers of A.P, citizens from their salary for the month of December of the  every year.