Middlesex County has a diverse and vibrant community that includes many Guatemalan American residents and businesses, contributing richly to the County’s cultural landscape. This flag raising in honor of Guatemalan Independence Day is a wonderful way to celebrate the significant contributions our Guatemalan American neighbors have made, and continue to make, to Middlesex County.

The Guatemalan flag’s colors hold deep significance: Blue symbolizes the sky and the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, representing the nation’s natural beauty and geographic importance, while White stands for peace and the desire for harmony among Guatemalan people.

The flag embodies the Guatemalan Americans who proudly call Middlesex County home. This flag raising ceremony celebrates and honors Guatemalan American culture, their rich heritage, and their ongoing impact on our community

"This Ukrainian flag represents their fight for their home, something we should never underestimate. 

In the roughly two-and-a-half weeks since the invasion, the world has seen the incredible courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of horrific, unrelenting attacks by Russia. America stands in solidarity with Ukraine in this fight for democracy, and with Ukrainian Americans – almost 74,000 of whom call New Jersey home… many right here in Middlesex County," said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios at the flag raising event held Saturday, March 12. 

"We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder today and throughout this crisis with our Ukrainian American neighbors, and we encourage our residents to support the refugees in any way they can. We will continue to pray for the strength of the Ukrainian people, and for peace and continued democracy in their nation"

"A flag raising is important because it sends out the signal that visibility at a local level is here, it's active and ongoing work that furthers the fight for LGBT rights, and is the most basic of recognitions we can give someone. We celebrate Pride Month to honor the plight of those who came before us, those who were ostracized in their time, and how we now enjoy our freedom because of their journeys. Pride Month is a reminder that we move upward and onward, together.

The colors of the flag represent love in all its shapes and forms. Over the years we have added individual flags to represent each letter in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum to rightfully ensure that all forms of expression are present and represented. The original flag brought us together as we continue to ask for equality in love and life.

The flag to our organization is a bit of a battle-call to arms. We unite under the common shared ideal that equality for all is worth fighting for. The flag represents LGBT rights, women's rights, and minority rights. It encompasses a general common struggle we are in the fight to protect.

Pride Month alone is historic and we should think of ourselves in a bit of a position of privilege. The world needs more visibility and, while we can today honor history’s LGBT leaders, we have to think forward and set examples the world can follow. To think that in other parts of our world it is Illegal to be gay makes our stances and positions and commitments even more important. We aren’t just raising a flag, we are raising hope that those who cannot be with us will one day have their day."

-Submitted by The Middlesex County LGBT Caucus

"A flag-raising ceremony acknowledges the contributions of other cultures to the United States and recognizes that there are many individuals from different cultures and countries now residing in the U.S. It acknowledges the deep respect of individuals from their home/immigrant country and their positive contributions, hopes, and dreams for social and economic prosperity. Celebrating the raising of the Jamaican flag is a moment of great pride and reverence. 

'The sun shineth, the land is green, and the people are strong and creative' is the symbolism of the colors of the flag. The black in the flag depicts the strength and creativity of the people, gold, represents the natural wealth and beauty of sunlight, and green denotes hope and agricultural resources.

The flag represents our homeland, our past, our present, and our future. It symbolizes the birth of the nation, the achievements of the past, and the ingenuity of the future.

Each year the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey raises a flag in many counties throughout New Jersey to acknowledge the large (over 250,000) Jamaican population in New Jersey, while also recognizing their political, social, and economic contributions."

-Submitted by Elsie Foster, JON-J Org

Middlesex County has a large Latino community, including many Mexican American residents and businesses that add to the County’s rich cultural tapestry. This flag raising in honor of Mexican Independence Day is a great way to celebrate the many contributions our Mexican American neighbors have made, and continue to make, to Middlesex County. 

The meaning of the flag’s colors has evolved over time, but the red now stands for the blood of the heroes who lost their lives while fighting for Mexico’s independence, the white represents unity, and the green stands for hope.

The flag represents the Mexican Americans who call Middlesex County home, and this flag raising ceremony is a celebration that embraces and honors the Mexican American culture and roots of this community, and their legacy in Middlesex County.

Middlesex County proudly embraces its rich diversity, which includes a vibrant community of Nicaraguan American residents and businesses. Their presence adds a unique and invaluable dimension to the county’s cultural landscape. By raising the Nicaraguan flag in honor of Nicaraguan Independence Day, we celebrate and recognize the significant contributions of our Nicaraguan American neighbors to Middlesex County.

The Nicaraguan flag’s colors carry meaningful symbolism: Blue represents the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the skies that stretch over Nicaragua, highlighting the country’s natural beauty and geographical significance. White for peace and the aspiration for unity among the Nicaraguan people.

This flag-raising ceremony is a tribute to the Nicaraguan Americans who proudly call Middlesex County home. It celebrates their vibrant culture, their rich heritage, and their ongoing influence and contributions to our community’s diversity and vitality.

It’s important to celebrate Poland by raising the Polish flag to show and value Polish heritage as a part of American culture. By raising our flag, we pay tribute to the Polish heroes who fought and died for our homeland as well as America, and at the same time, we demonstrate how important it is for us to remember the history of our country and Polish American relations. Also, we want to share the many contributions of Polish people to the United States of America. Starting with the first Polish settlers who arrived at Jamestown (Virginia) in 1608 for their ability to produce glass and tar. Then, those like General Tadeusz Kosciuszko and General Kazimierz Pulaski who fought for America’s freedom during the American Revolutionary War. Millions of Poles also emigrated later and worked hard to build America, including Zbigniew Brzezinski (US National Security Advisor), Stephen Wozniak (created and developed Apple I and Apple II computers), and James Pawelczyk and Scott Edward Parazynski (first Polish American astronauts).

Red: courage, self-sacrifice and struggles for freedom. White: Peace and purity. 

The flag is for us the symbol of our heritage and where we come from

The Polish flag has been used for centuries and it’s a symbol of our pride and identity. Through the ceremony of raising the flag we express respect and love for our nation.

Sponsoring Organization: Middlesex County Young Democrats Black Caucus

It is important to celebrate Black History Month and raise the Pan-African flag because it honors and remembers the Black Americans who sacrificed their lives to fight for change. It’s the often-neglected accomplishments of Black Americans that spoke against inequality, racism, and change that changed U.S. history.

The colors of the Pan-African flag are symbolic. Red represents the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and the blood that was shed for liberation; the color black symbolizes the people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the flag’s existence; and green represents the abundant and vibrant natural wealth of Africa.

The Lebanese flag is composed of three horizontal stripes, including two red stripes and one white stripe. The stripes have a width ratio of 1:2:1 where the white stripe is twice the size of the red ones. The white symbolizes peace, and the red symbolizes the conflict and perseverance that has kept Lebanon free. The cedar tree on the Lebanese flag is the Lebanon Cedar which is a common tree seen around the country. The cedar tree represents eternity, holiness, peace, and longevity.

The flag in its current iteration stands for freedom. Lebanon gained its independence from France on November 22, 1493.

St. Maron, the patron saint of Lebanon was a monk who is traditionally viewed as the founder of the nation of Lebanon. St. Maron's Day, celebrated on February 9, is held as the most important holiday because it focuses on the self-determination of Lebanon rather than its colonial history.

The Dominican Republic celebrates Independence Day on February 27. This holiday has nothing to do with Spanish colonizers, but instead commemorates the date when this Caribbean nation secured its autonomy from Haiti in 1844. On February 27, 2023, the Dominican Republic celebrates 179 years of independence!

Located on the island of Hispaniola and home to the native Taino people, the Dominican Republic became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the new world in December 1942. The region, then known as Spanish Haiti, was ruled by Spain for the next 300 years. The Dominican Republic gained its independence in 1821 ― until it was invaded by Haiti’s military and forcefully annexed in February 1822.

In 1844, leaders such as Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, and Matías Ramon Mella created a secret society called “La Trinitaria” which then revolted against the Haitian regime. The Trinitaria declared independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844.

This flag raising is especially meaningful because the national flag of the Dominican Republic is one of the main patriotic symbols of the Dominican people. The colors used in the flag hold special meaning: the red symbolizes the blood spilled by those who fought in the Dominican War of Independence; the blue represents the sky above, from where God protects the nation and its ideas of progress; and the white symbolizes the peace and union of the Dominicans. (An alternative theory considers the blue as an expression of the liberators’ fight to achieve a free nation for future generations, while the color white represents the care of the nation by God.) 

Interesting Facts About the Dominican Republic:

• Dominicans sometimes refer to their country as Quisqueya, a name for Hispaniola used by the indigenous Taino people.
• The national music of the Dominican Republic includes merengue and bachata.  

“While America is a melting pot of many nations, the Irish may have been the stock in the pot!
America's Irish immigrants literally built our infrastructure and helped to keep us united as one country.

Thousands of Irish immigrants fought for the Union in the Civil War, including my great- great- grandfather, Patrick Lyon. The Irish, along with Chinese immigrants, laid the tracks for our railroads. The Irish also dug our canals. Here in New Jersey, they dug the Delaware Raritan Canal and many lost their lives doing this dangerous work. They lay buried in graves, both marked and unmarked along the canal route. For these reasons and many more  it is fitting that we raise their flag around Saint Patrick's Day

The Tricolor is a beautiful representation of the Catholics (green) and Protestants (orange) living in peace (symbolized by the color white). It was first raised over the post office in Dublin, on Easter Monday, 1916. Among the rebels who hoisted the flag was the American-born Éamon de Valera. This Irish American became the first president of the Irish Free State, another fact befitting the traditional Irish flag raising ceremonies surrounding Saint Patrick's Day.

For our organization, the Tricolor is one of a patchwork of flags that represent the heritage of our members, as we, like our beloved country, are a melting pot made up of not only those of Irish heritage, but also of Portuguese, Puerto Rican,  Slovakian, and German descent. We love all of our flags, but we all love the "red, white, and blue" the most!”

―Submitted by American Irish Association of Central Jersey honoree Joan McNichol

Juneteenth is a time to celebrate how far Black Americans have come while assessing the many challenges still ahead. Two months after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and on June 19, two days after his arrival, Granger stood on the balcony of a building in downtown Galveston and read General Order No. 3 to the assembled crowd below. “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” he pronounced.

This was the first time that many learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Lincoln had issued two and a half years before.
Granger’s announcement in Galveston moved across Texas, creating jubilation wherever the state’s 250,000 enslaved people were found. A year later, a spontaneous holiday called Juneteenth —formed from the words June and nineteenth — began to be celebrated.

New Brunswick has been home to immigrants from numerous countries, including Peru.

The national flag of Peru is of a vertical triband design, with red outer bands and a single white middle band. The color red represents the blood that was shed for independence and the color white symbolizes purity and peace. The colors are believed to symbolize the lasting impact the Incas have had in the country.

This ceremony has a very special significance. It will be the first Peruvian flag raising in the city of New Brunswick. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Peruvian culture and the Peruvians who have been residing and doing amazing things in New Brunswick.

We celebrate the raising of the Colombian flag in recognition of the many Colombian and Colombian Americans who call Middlesex County home. With concentrations in municipalities such as Edison and South Plainfield, Colombian and Colombian Americans have contributed to the richness of diversity and the economy of Middlesex County.   

The yellow in the Colombian flag represents the wealth of the country’s natural resources and the abundance of Colombian soil. The blue in the flag represents the two oceans that border Colombia and also symbolizes the sky and loyalty, and the red represents the bloodshed and sacrifices made by those who fought for Colombian independence.

As Americans of Colombian decent, the Colombian flag stands as a symbol of our ancestral beginnings and the struggles that many of our forefathers endured to come to the United States in search of a better life ― their American dream. It symbolizes the aspects of Colombia (food, music, culture) that we grew up with.

July 20 is the day that symbolizes Colombia’s independence from Spanish colonization. This year marks 213 years since the signing of the Act of the Revolution in 1810. This date also recognizes the rich cultural heritage of Colombia, including the contributions of Afro-descendants, indigenous populations, and women to Colombian history.

―Submitted by New Brunswick Councilman Manuel J. Castañeda,

Thank you to the planning committee for collaborating on this event: New Brunswick Councilman Manuel J. Castañeda, Middlesex County Magnet Schools Superintendent and Carteret Councilman Jorge Diaz, and Chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Luis De La Hoz.

Celebrating Puerto Rico and raising the Puerto Rican flag is essential as it represents cultural identity, pride, and unity for the people of Puerto Rico, highlighting our unique history, traditions, and contributions to the world. It fosters a sense of belonging and promotes awareness of our heritage, strengthening the bond within the community and beyond. Locally, it will give us the opportunity to celebrate and recognize Puerto Rican individuals, business, and organizations that have contributed to the richness and diversity of Middlesex County. 

The Puerto Rican flag has a rich history and is a deeply meaningful symbol. First created in 1895 by the Puerto Rican section of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, “its design is the same as the Cuban flab but with the colors inverted.” The flag has five horizontal stripes, alternating in red and white. On the left there is a white star on a blue triangle.

According to an 1895 meeting where 59 Puerto Ricans gathered in New York City and formed a political group to organize the pro-independence movement in Puerto Rico (which was still under Spanish rule), the flag’s red stripes represent “the blood from the brave warriors,” while the white stripes stand for “victory and peace after obtaining independence.” The lone white star represents the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, and the blue triangle represents the sky and coastal waters.

However, in 1952, the Puerto Rico legislature approved the final symbolism of the flag. According to the legislature, the flag’s red stripes stand for the “blood” that nourishes the three branches of government, while the white stripes represent “individual liberty and the rights that keep in perfect balance to form the government.” The blue triangle on the Puerto Rican flag represents the “republican government – represented by the three branches,” and the white star represents the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rican flag is the highest expression of nationalism and a tangible symbol of Puerto Rican pride.

Raising the Puerto Rican flag holds significant historical importance as it symbolizes the island's struggle for autonomy, identity, and recognition. Throughout its history, Puerto Rico has faced colonial rule and challenges to assert its sovereignty. The flag has been a powerful emblem of resistance, representing the island's desire for self-determination and independence.

One notable event in Puerto Rico's history that elevated the importance of the flag was the Grito de Lares in 1868, an uprising against Spanish colonial rule. During this rebellion, the Puerto Rican flag was first raised as a symbol of defiance and hope for a better future.

Later, in the 20th century, Puerto Rico faced a different form of colonial status under the United States. Despite becoming a U.S. territory in 1898, the island continued to cherish its cultural identity, and the flag remained a potent symbol of national pride. The flag played a significant role in various movements and protests advocating for civil rights, political autonomy, and social justice.

Today, raising the Puerto Rican flag remains a poignant act of remembrance, celebration, and unity, reminding people of their shared history, struggles, and the ongoing pursuit of recognition and self-determination.