Enviro News Asia, Washington D.C, — Every August 17, millions of Indonesians turn their attention to a deeply moving national tradition: the raising of the Red and White flag. At the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, members of the Flag-Raising Troop, or Paskibraka, march with precision, discipline, and dignity.
Yet the ceremony represents far more than the raising of a flag. It embodies the history of Indonesia’s struggle for independence, national pride, and the commitment of younger generations to uphold the country’s values.
The Paskibraka tradition began shortly after Indonesia proclaimed independence. During the first Independence Day commemoration in Yogyakarta on August 17, 1946, President Soekarno assigned Husein Mutahar to prepare the flag-raising ceremony. Mutahar selected five young men and women from different regions to carry out the historic duty.
The number five carried symbolic meaning, representing the five principles of Pancasila, the foundation of Indonesia’s national life. The symbolism reflected Indonesia’s unity despite its thousands of islands, ethnic groups, languages, and cultural traditions.
In 1967, Husein Mutahar refined the flag-raising ceremony into the now-familiar 17-8-45 formation, commemorating August 17, 1945, the date of Indonesia’s Proclamation of Independence. In this formation, the group of 17 serves as the escorts or guides, the group of 8 forms the core flag-raising unit, and the group of 45 serves as the honor guard.
Since then, Paskibraka has become more than a ceremonial unit. It has come to symbolize discipline, unity, leadership, and the dedication of Indonesia’s younger generation to the nation.
That spirit extends far beyond Indonesia. Thousands of miles away in Washington, DC, the Red and White flag will also be raised with the same sense of pride and devotion.
On Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Wisma Indonesia in Washington, DC, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo inaugurated 17 members of the Indonesian Embassy’s Flag-Raising Troop, known as Paskibra KBRI Washington DC. The inauguration marked their readiness to perform their duties at the ceremony commemorating the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence in the United States capital.
The members represent a new generation of Indonesians and members of the Indonesian diaspora. Some were born in the United States, grew up far from their parents’ homeland, or are currently pursuing their education there. Despite the distance from Indonesia, the country’s values continue to find a place in their identities.
For the Paskibra members, raising the flag is not simply a matter of mastering marching movements. The responsibility requires intensive training, punctuality, physical endurance, discipline, teamwork, and mutual trust. Through every synchronized step, they learn that the success of a unit depends not on one individual, but on collective effort.
More importantly, they carry the honor of the Red and White flag. As the flag slowly rises to the top of the pole, they remind us that love for Indonesia is not limited by geographical distance. A sense of national identity can grow in Jakarta, Aceh, Papua, Yogyakarta, or Washington, DC.
From the grounds of the Merdeka Palace to Wisma Indonesia in Washington, DC, the Red and White continues to carry the same message: independence is a legacy that must be protected.
Through the Paskibra KBRI Washington DC, the younger generation of the Indonesian diaspora contributes to preserving national identity, strengthening unity, and reaffirming their pride in being Indonesian—wherever they may be. (*)
