A fifteen minute flag-raising ceremony was held in Pago Pago this morning, to officially mark the 103 years since American Samoa became a US territory.
Close to 100 people, mainly Department of Public Safety personnel and police officers, some government officials gathered to witness the annual event, which was scaled down as American Samoa remains in mourning over the death of late Governor Tauese Sunia.
Governor Togiola Tulafono said the Flag Day celebration had been pushed back to the first week of July to coincide with the the United States' Fourth of July celebration, giving American Samoa time to mourn the loss of Tauese.
Today's brief flag-raising event, held at the government's Executive Office Building, marks the day in 1900 when the United States flag was raised in American Samoa, making the islands part of the USA.
