Basic HTML Version
Ted H. Funk-Woodfin Camp
Malta's mercurial Prime Minister
Dom Mintoff blunt ly labeled the
British departure as Ma lta's "Day of
Freedom" (the nation gaincd its po–
litical independcnce in 1964). Still,
many M'altese are wondering how
free they will be, and what price they
may have to pay, for sevcring the last
links witb Britain and other NATO
nations in the defense of the West.
When
1
arrived in Malta one week
after its "Day of Freedom," the har–
bor where British naval vessels an–
chored for nearly two centuries was
empty. Allthat was left on the dock–
sirle al Vittoriosa was a new monu–
ment depicting a Maltcse dock work–
er bidding farewell to a British sailor
who has taken down Britain's flag for
the last time. Another worker is
The
PLAIN TRUTH September 1979
shown rais ing Malta's own flag in
place of the Union Jack.
Ironically, on one corner of Mal–
ta 's flag is the George Cross (Brit–
ain's highest civilian award for val–
or), which was awarded to Malta's
entire population in 1942 by King
George VI after a particularly brutal
siege of Nazi bombing raids. The
Maltese had to run to their limestone
cave bomb shelters as often as twelve
times a day. The king applauded
these brave and nearly starving
people for thei r "heroism and devo–
tion that will long be famous in his–
tory."
President Roosevelt álso honored
the Maltese for their courage when
he visited the country in 1943. On the
wall of the Palace in Valletta, the
Robert C. Boraker
GRANO HARBOR
of Valletta, Malta 's
capital (left), with Fort St. Elmo at the
promon tory. Monument in Va/let t a
(above) depicts green hand of Libya
and red-and-white hand of Malta j ointly
supporting the Ma/tese islands.
capital, is an inscription citing this
presidential ci tation, which reads in
part: "Malta's bright story of human
fortitude and courage will be read by
posterity with wonder and gratitude
through all the ages. What was done
in this island maintains the highest
tradition of gallant men and women
who, from the beginning of time,
have lived and died to preserve civili–
zation for all mankind."
But today's 320,000 Maltese can't
live forever on their nation's cour-
15