Sunday, May 21, as part of the celebration of the 214th anniversary of our national bicolor, during a solemn Mass "Te Deum" celebrated in the Church of Our Lady of Peace in Chicago, the Consul General of Haiti Lesly Condé has delivered a message that we invite you to share.

Address by the Consul Lesly Condé :

"[...]

We are gathered here in the house of the Lord to commemorate a colossal event in both the history of Haiti and the history of mankind. It is always a pleasure to be in your company, and to bring you warm greetings from the Consulate General of Haiti in Chicago.

If we are gathered here to proudly commemorate the 214th anniversary of Haiti's flag, it is thanks to the invariable solidarity of the Church of Our Lady of Peace, and the Haitian Catholic Mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago. I am always willing to express the Community's profound gratitude.

This year, we are proudly commemorating the 214th anniversary of the Haitian Flag. The proud symbol of Haiti also represents universal freedom. When they gathered in Arcahaie on May 18, 1804, our ancestors were more than ever, determined to put an end to slavery, and make that heartless system of exploitation of humans by humans obsolete. The origin of our flag's colors holds a potent symbolism that speaks of courage, determination and defiance. When Jean-Jacques Dessalines tore the dreaded three-colored symbol of tyranny in order to create the two-colored flag that was to become the Haitian Flag, he and his men showed the entire world the way to freedom. Indeed, on May 18, 1804, this flag was raised in all its glory as the First Black Nation of the New World was born. Many came to our shores to breathe the air of freedom, and to get support for their own struggles. Today, no one speaks about that. Some would like us to pretend that our glorious past never happened. Others would want us to apologize for it while they wallow in their reminiscences of conquests and atrocities. We defeated slavery, and conquered freedom. No nation on earth has more reasons to be proud of its history than Haiti. Today, our flag is talking to us. It is urging us to remember the unity that it symbolizes. It is also showing us the way to a destiny which is worthy of our ancestors since it represents the triumph of bravery over tyranny. It is we who must be proud of our flag, and draw from it all the courage and determination we need in order to forge the destiny we deserve.

In closing, I want to thank this church and the Catholic Mission for their unwavering solidarity which allows us to commemorate our flag's 214th anniversary in God's house. Above all, I urge you to remain proud of our flag because it is the flag of freedom.

Thank you for your attention,

Lesly Condé

General Consul"

IH/ iciHaiti