The orator of this year's Flag Day celebration has called for the changing of the country's motto from "The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here" to "The Love of Liberty Brought All Here"

In his Flag Day Oration, Rev. Emmanuel Bowier, former Information Minister, said the current motto of Liberia needs to be changed because "all Liberians migrated to this land in search of liberty".

He said prior to the coming of the settlers, there were people on the ground that had migrated from other parts of Africa due to war and other issue that posed threat to their lives, and they came to Liberia for liberty.

Rev Bowier said he will shortly petition the National Legislature for the changing of the country's motto.

Rev, Bowier is not the first national orator to call for the changing of the country's motto.

The national orators of the 2008 and 2010 Independence Celebrations Dr. Saku Malakpah, a visually impaired Liberian, and Father Robert Tekpor of the Catholic Church, respectively called for the changing of the country's motto during their orations.

The Liberian Flag, commonly known as the Lone Star, is a piece of cloth but not just an ordinary piece of cloth. It is a special cloth that represents the Liberian state and its people. It stands for the meaning of Liberia as well as the hopes and aspiration of all Liberians.

The flag was made in 1847 by a committee of women upon the request of Governor Joseph Jenkins Roberts of the commonwealth of Liberia.

In a letter addressed to Mrs. Susannah Lewis dated July 10, 1847, an appeal was made by Governor Roberts (who became the country's first president) for a new flag to be raised on July 26, the date of Liberia's independence.

As the committee had not completed its work by Independence Day, the American flag was hoisted instead.

It was on August 24, 1847 that Liberia raised her flag for the first time at the old House of Representatives (then, on Broad Street) under the command of Captain Payne of the Liberia Frontier Force.

The flag of Liberia contains the colors of red, white and blue and eleven stripes of which six are red.

The flag also contains a square blue field on which there is a white star.

Since 1847, historians have interpreted what the color, stripes, star and blue field symbolize.

The eleven stripes represent the men that signed the Declaration of Independence.

The blue field represents Africa at the time of Liberia's independence when there was no republic on the continent.

The white star symbolizes Liberia, the shinning hope that one day all of Africa would be free.

The blue is a symbol of valor of bravery, indicating the preparedness of Liberians to defend their freedom and independence against enemies from within and without.

The red color stands for blood that Liberians have shed and will shed in defense of their country. Finally, the white color symbolizes purity of mind and heart.

All Liberians are reminded by this color to respect the right of their fellow citizens since doing so reduces friction and disunity in the state.

All citizens and foreigners alike are to stand attentive whenever the flag is being raised to demonstrate a sign of respect and patriotism for the nation.

The national ensign should be displayed on all buildings on August 24.

In a related development, Gray D. Allison High School has won the 2010 Flag Day Parade, with G. W. Gibson and Tubman High School coming second and third respectively.