The Office of Veterans Affairs is holding events throughout the territory Wednesday in commemoration of Veterans Day, and all government offices, along with local public schools, courts and the V.I. Legislature, will shut down for the holiday.
Local post offices, banks and Innovative Communications offices will also close.
Parades will be held on all three islands, beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Coral Bay, St. John; 9:30 a.m. in Frederiksted, St. Croix; and 3 p.m. on St. Thomas.
On St. John, the parade will begin at Crabby’s Watersports on Route 107 and end at the Coral Bay Agriculture Station. The parade will be followed by a ceremony. The American Legion Post 131 will also celebrate the opening of its headquarters with the island’s first mini agricultural fair, sponsored by Post 131 and the Agriculture Department. Food and drinks will be served.
On St. Croix, the parade will begin at the post office in Frederiksted and continue down King Street to the bandstand, where a short ceremony will be held.
And on St. Thomas, the parade route starts at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, will make its way to the Western Cemetery entrance and move down Main Street to the Franklin D. Roosevelt V.I. Veterans Memorial Park, where a short ceremony honoring veterans will be held. Appearing in the parade this year will be the British Virgin Islands’ Police Marching Unit, according to a Government House news release.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. has called upon all residents of the territory to recognize the nation’s living veterans, along with the generations of veterans before them who have "fought to protect freedom and democracy."
"While our thoughts and prayers are with those soldiers in distant war zones, Veterans Day is an opportunity for all Virgin Islanders and all Americans to pay their respects to all those who answered the nation’s call to military service," he said in a statement. "On this day we honor the sacrifices made by our fellow Virgin Islanders and commend the dedication of the armed forces in general."
The Office of Veterans Affairs will also hold other events this week, including a mock session at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on Tuesday beginning at 10 a.m. A documentary called "Proudly We Served," featuring local residents who served during World War II, will also air on WTJX Channel 12 on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
For more information on this week’s activities, contact the Office of Veterans Affairs at 774-6100 on St. Thomas or 773-6663 on St. Croix.
