How I Celebrate the Independence Day

Since 1945, every August 17, Indonesia has commemorated Independence Day or commonly known as the Republic of Indonesia's Anniversary. The Commemoration Ceremony of the Seconds of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta starts at 10.00 WIB. My family and I always watch the flag ceremony live on TV.

Then later in the afternoon, I watch the competitions held in front of the mosque near my house. My favorite thing to watch is the children competing in the cracker eating competition, that is, they have to eat crackers without the help of their hands as the crackers are hung on a long piece of string. It’s really funny watching them get messy. My family and I usually have dinner together in the evening and my mom tells me stories about Indonesian history and how our country gained our independence.

I’m proud to say that our country was one of the first countries to be free from colonialism. Our country went through difficult times to be free, so let's cherish the freedom and never forget all the heroes that fought hard for our country. Happy 77th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia!

Natalia Lee – XIMIPA
SHB Modernland