Embassy Celebrates Raising of the American Flag

 

 Press Release

Embassy of the United States

Tripoli, Libya

May 13, 2009

 

Ambassador Gene A. Cretz Celebrates Raising the Flag at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli

 

USDAO Tripoli Staff Raise the Flag as the Ambassador Looks On

 

Ambassador Interviewed by Al-Jazeera and Reuters on the Occasion

 

  Embassy Staff, Guests, and Press Honor the Flag

  Ambassador Gene A. Cretz welcomed Libyan and other dignitaries to the Embassy of the United States on May 13, 2009 to attend a ceremony where the American Flag was raised over the U.S. Embassy compound for the first time in 30 years.

The Ambassador said raising the Flag was a touchstone for the American spirit worldwide. He said, "When they think of images of the Flag, Americans remember Neil Armstrong on the moon, Joe Rosenthal’s photograph of the Flag over Iwo Jima, and Thomas Franklin’s image ‘Ground Zero Spirit,’ where the Flag was raised after the tragedy of September 11. Each generation has a different reference, but the images and feelings are the same –stars and stripes, honor and service."

"Every day at the U.S. Embassy, we continue our business of "firsts" – the first exchange of Ambassadors, the first meeting between the Libyan National Security Advisor and our recently-appointed Secretary of State, the first opening of visa services in Libya in over 25 years, and the first interviews by U.S. officials on Libyan television… We are working tirelessly to bring the Libyan and American people together, to continue the process of communication and opening new doors for the first time. Raising the Flag is a symbol to the American people that we are representing them in Libya, and a symbol to the Libyan people that they are always welcome to learn about our country and its values."