🇹🇹🏅 Independence Symbols – From Flag-Raising to National Awards Through 63 Years When Trinidad & Tobago gained Independence in 1962, new national symbols were unveiled: the red, white, and black flag, the anthem “Forged from the Love of Liberty,” and the coat of arms featuring the scarlet ibis, hummingbird, and ship. Midnight flag-raising ceremonies became the first tradition of independence. Over the years, cultural expressions like parades, steelbands, and calypso performances added layers