That morning, the sun had just risen from the east, illuminating the school field filled with students dressed in neat uniforms. Monday, July 21, 2025, was a special day for three eleventh-grade students standing tall in front of the flagpole. Three young Srikandi were honored to be the flag-raising team in the first flag ceremony of the new school year.
The atmosphere was silent. All eyes were fixed on the flagpole standing tall in the center of the field. The principal, teachers, and hundreds of students stood neatly in a row, witnessing the sacred moment.
Holding the folded red and white flag with great care, their right hand tightly gripped the edge of the cloth, while the person standing on the right was ready to pull the rope. The group leader gave the command in a firm but calm voice.
As the song "Indonesia Raya" played from the loudspeaker, their movement began. The flag slowly rose, aligning with the rhythm of the national anthem. Nothing moved except the fluttering of the flag as it began to soar high into the blue sky.
The three of them had practiced for a full week, under the blazing sun and light rain. Many would have given up, but not them. That day, all their hard work paid off with the perfect success of raising the flag without a single flaw.
As soon as the flag reached the top of the pole, the three of them saluted in unison. Amidst the thunderous applause that followed, a sense of pride welled up in their hearts—pride at having carried out a noble duty for the country, even in a small setting at their beloved school.
