May 25, 2009 — Drums and sousaphone filled the air Monday as old soldiers joined young soldiers, National Guard men and women, American Legionnaires and Legion Auxiliaries, marching bands and majorettes to parade through the streets of Frederiksted and honor the sacrifices of the nation's fallen soldiers for Memorial Day.
With streets nearly empty at first, the procession went first to Frederiksted Cemetery, stopping for a graveside ceremony, the laying of a wreath, the playing of "Taps" and a squad firing off a volley in salute to the departed. There was a special tribute to Sgt. Major James McIntosh Jr., a recently departed V.I. soldier. Then, with the St. Croix Educational Complex Marching Band and majorettes setting the proper tone for a parade, they wound their way down toward the Frederiksted cruise ship pier, where, under sunny, blue skies, Gov. John deJongh Jr. tossed a bouquet of flowers upon the crystal-clear still waters.
From the pier, the procession moved to Buddhoe Park, where families milled in the sun-dappled shade, faces turned to the bandstand to hear decorated veterans, active soldiers and high government officials say appropriate words of thanks and commemoration. The Crucian Brass Ensemble played "The Star Spangled Banner," "The V.I. March," the theme songs of each branch of the U.S. armed forces and other traditional marching music. The crowd recited the U.S. pledge of allegiance and listened to dignitaries speak from the bandstand. All of that combined to create a feeling of timelessness to the ceremony, as if it could just as easily be Memorial Day — or Decoration Day, as it was previously known — in 1950 or 1925.
Col. Jeffrey Buckley of the V.I. National Guard gave the keynote address.
"Thanksgiving we give thanks for the things we have," Buckley said. "Memorial Day is a day to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have. This is a day of gratitude, a day for reflection on the price paid for us to have what we do."
In her remarks, Delegate Donna M. Christensen read off the names of those Virgin Islanders who have died in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, including Army Specialist Jose Emmanuel Rosario, Private First Class Jason Nathanial Lynch, Marine Lance Corporal Shane L. Goldman, Sgt. First Class Floyd E. Lake and Lt. Col. David Canegata II and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Rivera-Santiago.
The ceremony ended with the playing of "Taps" during a roll call of V.I. veterans who passed away over the past year, followed by a final prayer of benediction.
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