Juramento a la Bandera del Ecuador

We enjoyed our first Ecuadorian tradition this past Friday- the Juramento a la Bandera, or Pledge of Allegiance. It is a government mandated day in which every school had to participate as well as everyone in the school. Parents come to watch and parents and students dress in their best clothes. It is a time in which the senior class is honored and shows their respect for Ecuador and the flag.

It started with a processional of flags from all the countries represented in our school. This year it was about 25 but in the past it has been as many as 32.

Then came the honored Ecuadorian flag being carried by the highest ranked Ecuadorian in the school. This year's valedictorian is not Ecuadorian so she could not carry the Ecuadorian flag but carried the AAI flag. It is a very high honor to carry the Ecuadorian flag during this ceremony. It is something that students put on their resumes and can receive scholarships for. The flag is escorted by the other top ranked seniors. The rest of the senior class is divided on each side of the gym, boys on one side and girls on another. 

 There was a live band. When they played the national anthem of Ecuador, everyone stood and sang.

Even the kids who were watching via live stream from their classrooms since we didn't have enough room for everyone in the gym. These are Patrick's 3rd graders.

There was also some kind of national guard or service men, I'm not quite sure, who marched in with another flag as well. 

 The pledge then happened as each senior came to the flag and if they were Ecuadorian, they would bow and then kiss the flag. Students who were not Ecuadorian would bow and then place a rose in the vase. This particular senior is a student one of our dorm students from the Cufan tribe in the jungle.

The honored senior gave a speech as well as on of the board members. It was quite an interesting today to see how another culture honors their country. We will still be around when Zachary is a senior??