The high level of excitement and enthusiasm was palpable among Jakarta’s residents who witnessed the procession to transport the Heirloom Red-and-White Flag replica and the Indonesian Independence Proclamation manuscript copy to Indonesia’s new capital Nusantara.
The Presidential Secretariat noted in its statement on Saturday that thousands of Jakarta’s residents lined up on the roadside to view the procession from the National Monument in Central Jakarta to Halim Perdanakusuma Air Field in East Jakarta.
The intensity of their applause grew higher as the procession passed by them.
Ratih, a resident from Cibubur, East Jakarta, said she became part of history by personally witnessing the procession along with her family.
“The procession is very exciting and lively because of the drum band performance. We also want to educate our children (through the procession),” she remarked.
Ratih is upbeat that the procession would instill a sense of nationalism and love for the homeland in her children. She also said that her children might be inspired to join the Flag-Raising Troop (Paskibraka) after viewing the troop partaking in the event.
Meanwhile, Anisa, a student of Jakarta’s Vocational High School No. 59, said she was glad to have witnessed the procession up close, especially when she saw the passing by of the “Maung” tactical vehicle produced by domestic defense company Pindad.
“The person who brings the Heirloom Flag to the new capital is also very cool,” the student stated.
After a two-hour flight from Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Air Field, the Heirloom Flag and the Proclamation manuscript safely arrived at the Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan, the city closest to Nusantara, at approximately 12:55 p.m. local time (UTC +8).
The second leg of the procession from Balikpapan to Nusantara took more than two hours. The two artefacts arrived at Nusantara’s Garuda Palace at 3:30 p.m. local time.