Including the one that Gecko posted, we now have 12. I think we're going to go for 2 a day before it's all said and done.
Interesting article I found about St. Maarten's Day:
PHILIPSBURG--Urging people to display unity on St. Maarten Day, Commissioner of Culture Louie Laveist displayed a wide range of paraphernalia on Tuesday, some of it quite wacky. He did so with Henry Janvier of Arnia’s Bookstore where the “stuff” is being sold.
Never before has there been so much “stuff” available for the island’s National Day. Besides the usual items such as T-shirts, pins, tiepins, key chains and various types of items displaying the St. Maarten flag, this year’s assortment includes bags, caps, pens, aprons, bracelets, kitchen gloves, windsocks and umbrellas.
Added to the collection are funky glittering items like earrings, leather belts with “spinner” buckles and necklaces with “I love St. Maarten.” There are even training suits, one of which Commissioner Laveist proudly displayed. Laveist said he had personally sponsored the training suits, pens and house flags. The latter are available at his office.
Prices are being kept low to enable as many persons as possible to purchase flags or other paraphernalia. Flags cost between US $2.50 and US $5. The popular car flag costs US $5 and the house flag goes for US $20. Usually these prices are higher.
Janvier, who together with Laveist showed the paraphernalia, explained that his business was doing this “out of love” for St. Maarten. He said he had received no financial support from the government, but had been in close contact with Laveist. The majority of the items are already for sale at the bookstore located on Bush Road.
Laveist put up his car flag Tuesday afternoon and urged residents to do the same. He referred to it as “displaying patriotism.” He said St. Maarten Day was not about political parties, but about St. Maarten. “It is not about the Democratic Party, National Alliance or People’s Progressive Alliance. It’s not about Louie Laveist,” he told the media gathered in his office.
Laveist urged people in general and political parties in particular to “put aside differences” and to “display unity” on St. Maarten Day.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will be present for this year’s festivities. Laveist said people should let the Queen know how proud they are of being part of St. Maarten.
With St. Maarten moving toward its new status of country within the Kingdom, the flag becomes even more important, said the Commissioner. He said the national flag would become a “calling card.” Consequently, it is everybody’s duty to display the red, white and blue of the flag. “It doesn’t matter where you are from, as long as you are here.”
Edited to add: This may be an old article, but it just popped up on my search function for the first time today.