American Samoa's pre Flag Day 2009 celebration kicks off this morning with two fautasi (long boat) heat races to select the teams to compete in Saturday's regatta and later this afternoon with the Flag Day church service at the Fagatogo Pavilion in the downtown area.
The actual two-day Flag Day festivities, marking the 109 years since the raising of the U.S. flag in American Samoa, open tomorrow at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Governor Togiola Tulafono Togiola will deliver his annual Flag Day address tomorrow, in which he is expected to speak about the current economic conditions, the challenges faced by the territory and the new undersea fiber optic connection.
Two village groups from Samoa - totaling more than 300 people - are participating in this year's traditional Samoan song and dance.
One of the villages is participating in the long boat race.
