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On February 15, 1965, 10,000 people gathered on Parliament Hill. They were there, in the shadow of the Peace Tower, to watch the raising of Canada’s new flag.

At noon, amidst a muffled 21-gun salute, a gust of wind gave the flag “the first flutter of life,” Peter C. Newman observed. “If our nation by God’s grace endures a thousand years, this day will always be remembered as a milestone in Canada’s national progress,” said Lester Pearson, the prime minister.

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Pearson managed a smile from his flu-ridden body before returning to bed. John Diefenbaker, who had fought the flag as opposition leader, wiped away tears.

Fifty years on, the flag is an imperishable symbol of national sovereignty. More than ever, we are a nation of flag-wavers.

But its birth is less than “a milestone.” Indeed, the Conservatives are happy to ignore the flag.

For a government that has made history its mantra, we would expect this anniversary to be a big deal. It’s not.