Parades, ceremonies mark Veterans Day
Published: November 10, 2010
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St. Croix Seventh-Day Adventist School students sing during their visit to the American Legion Hall in Christiansted.
American Legion Post 85 Adjutant Raphael Munchez Sr., left, and Post 85 Commander Amos Sealey, right, and St. Croix Seventh-day Adventist School students salute during the playing of the national anthem at the American Legion Hall in Christiansted on Tuesday morning.
The territory will mark Veterans Day on Thursday with ceremonies and parades in both districts.
“We are inviting all the general public to come out and witness both parades. It’s a way to greet the veterans and thank them for serving,” said Charles David, commander of American Legion District 10 in the Virgin Islands. “Without them, well, like they say, freedom isn’t free.”
Veterans Day falls on the anniversary of the Nov. 11, 1918, signing of the armistice that ended World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that year.
The following year, President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day. Later, Congress passed legislation to make Nov. 11 an annual holiday — Armistice Day — dedicated to world peace. In 1954, legislation to expand the holiday to celebrate all veterans, not just those from World War I, was signed into law.
The holiday is observed by both the federal and the Virgin Islands government.
“The citizens of this nation and territory live in freedom thanks to the sacrifices made by those who served in the United States military in times of peace and times of national peril. This year, we recognize and pay tribute to the thousands of Virgin Islands veterans who, through their continued devotion to the highest ideals of citizenship, constitute a foundation of both strength and progress for this territory,” Gov. John deJongh Jr. said in a prepared statement. “It is a privilege to express our gratitude to those veterans. Their sacrifices serve as constant reminders of the high price of liberty.”
DeJongh has signed a Veterans Day proclamation for the territory.
A variety of Veterans Week activities, starting last Friday, have been scheduled, although rain during the weekend canceled some of the events.
David said officials hope the weather turns out well for Thursday’s Veterans Day parades and ceremonies.
The activities begin on St. Croix, with a parade in Christiansted starting at 9:30 a.m.
The parade lineup begins at 8:30 a.m. at Bassin Triangle, and the parade will move out at 9:30, making its way down King Street to the Christiansted bandstand, David said.
Following the parade, there will be a ceremony at the bandstand, with Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Richard Burch as the keynote speaker.
On St. Thomas, the parade is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Thursday at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School and proceed to the Franklin Roosevelt V.I. Veterans Memorial Park for a ceremony. Command Sgt. Major Althea Green Dixon, U.S. Army Medical Command senior enlisted adviser to the Army surgeon general, is scheduled to be keynote speaker at the ceremony.
On both islands, various local dignitaries are scheduled to speak.
— Contact Joy Blackburn at 774-8772 ext. 455 or e-mail jblackburn@dailynews.vi.
