Malta commemorates Republic Day
Malta is today commemorating Republic Day with a series of events in Valletta.
This morning, members of the Armed Forces of Malta, accompanied by the AFM band, will march along Republic Street trooping the presidential colour.
The parade, organised by the National Festivities Committee within Festivals Malta, will start at 10am following a band march parade that will leave Freedom Square towards St George’s Square at 9.30am.
Trooping the presidential colour dates back to the times when the regiment’s colours provided a rallying point on the battlefield.
Without modern means of communication, it was all too easy for troops to become disoriented and separated from their unit during conflict. For troops to know what their regiment’s colours looked like, these were displayed regularly.
This was done by marching the colours along the lines of troops in slow time with the aim to impress it upon the soldiers’ memories.
The presidential colour was presented to the Armed Forces by the President in 2014. It symbolises the Armed Forces’ loyalty and devotion to the head of State and the people of Malta.
The National Festivities Committee is also organising a programme of band marches in...