Thailand to celebrate 100th anniversary of Thai national flag

BANGKOK, Sept 16 (TNA) -- Thailand prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Thai national flag on September 28. Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Ormsin Chivapruck announced the celebratory activities to be held at Government House marking the day King Vajiravudh issued a decree adopting the design of the tri-color flag in 1917. The flag bears five horizontal stripes in red, white, blue, white and red, with the central blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the others. The colors to stand for nation-religion-king --red for the land and people, white for religions and blue for the monarchy. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would preside over the event and present national flags to individuals, Mr Ormsin said. An exhibition on the history of the flag, called “Tri-rong” in Thai, would be organized, said Mr Ormsin. The premier would lead the crowd in a flag-raising ceremony and singing the National Anthem, he added. For this occasion, the National Anthem has been revised for a more modern tone while the melody and verses remained the same. Mr Ormsin said the national anthem became more "powerful" and inspire "love of the nation." (TNA)