Captured in photos by the United Nations Flag AvenueYou can see the full photo essay This.
Rain or shine
When weather conditions are favorable, meaning above freezing conditions, the flags begin to fly at exactly 8:00 a.m.
With steady hands and unwavering determination, United Nations security officers undertake the task of flying the flags of 193 Member States.
However, choreography does not end with this metaphor aimed at ideal global harmony.
Throughout the day, these flags fly vigil over bustling First Avenue, demonstrating the nature and mission of the United Nations.
UN security staff are in the process of flying nearly 200 flags every day of the week at UN Headquarters.
From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe
Each UN member state is allocated a separate place in the alphabet from north to south, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
In 2015, two observer states that are not members of the United Nations (the Holy See and the State of Palestine) were assigned their own flagpoles.
All find representation in this symbolic representation of unity.
The 193 United Nations member states are assigned a flagpole, arranged in English alphabetical order from north to south at United Nations Headquarters.
Traditions develop
When the United Nations moved into the Secretariat building in the early 1950s, there were just over 50 member states. Today, this number has nearly quadrupled.
On weekends, only the United Nations flag is raised. There is one exception. During the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly in September, the flags of the United Nations and the world flew around the clock.
What distance does the flagpole representing the United Nations’ 195 member and observer states cover? Six blocks in New York City, to be exact.
They run along First Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street in midtown Manhattan, where the flag tradition has continued into the 21st century.
On weekends, only the United Nations flag is raised, but during the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly held in September each year, the United Nations and world flags are still flown. flying day and night.
A unique reminder that no nation stands alone
When the clock strikes 4pm, the flag is lowered.
Once again, the dedication and diligence of the security staff infused a sense of purpose to the front of campus, transforming a simple street scene into a vital stage for global affairs .
For those who want to witness this unique reminder that no nation stands alone in the pursuit of a brighter world, there is no better time than a sunny winter morning or It was a balmy spring afternoon when this routine but meaningful ceremony took place.
Photo essay United Nations: Flags Avenue
The flags outside the United Nations Headquarters are raised manually by UN security staff at around 8am on weekdays and lowered around 4pm on weekdays, except in cases of bad weather. .
