WASHINGTON, DC – On May 17, The White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a 175-member delegation of Haitian Diaspora leaders and friends of Haiti from New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington DC Metro, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, California, Canada and Haiti to commemorate the Haitian Flag Day. The Haitian League has historically sponsored this event at the White House but this year’s event held a special significance.

Hosted at the tail of the Haitian Diaspora Federation Press Conference at the National Press Club, this year’s Flag Day commemoration coined “L’Union Fait La Force” (Strength in Unity) was a memorial for the victims of the January 12, 2010 earthquake and a tribute to the survivors and those who contributed to the rescue efforts. At the epicenter was 16-year old bilateral amputee, Ruthnie Constant, who survived 6 days under the rubble.