Hundreds of people gathered in downtown St. Thomas on Tuesday for the annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony, where music, marching bands, and heartfelt tributes honored Virgin Islanders who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The event drew a cross section of the Virgin Islands community, including elected officials, members of the Virgin Islands National Guard, commanders and members of the American Legion, representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Puerto Rico, Gold Star and military families, Junior ROTC participants, Girl Scouts, high school bands and cheerleaders, clergy, students, local residents, and honoree American Legion Post 131 Charge Officer Henry Powell and his wife.
After the parade, which began at Emile Griffith Park and wound east along Veterans Drive before ending near the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union, officials and community members gathered at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Veterans Memorial Park, where speakers reflected on the day’s significance.
Sen. Avery L. Lewis, chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Veterans Affairs, paid tribute to veterans and their families.
“Today, we pause as a community, a territory, and a nation to honor the brave men and women who raised their right hand and pledged to defend the freedoms we cherish,” he said.
Lewis praised the territory’s veterans, saying they “have earned distinguished honors, broken barriers and made history with their excellence, courage [and] leadership.” He added, “We remain forever proud and inspired by their service … those living and those who live on in memory.”
Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett called Veterans Day “a deep, personal one for the people of the Virgin Islands.”
“The Virgin Islands has a proud tradition of military service that far exceeds our size,” Plaskett said. “Just look at the size of our Junior ROTC as it came down; that was astounding. Our commitment to this country, even when our country isn’t fully committed to us, we are committed to the values that our country has. That is our primary goal, to continue those values.”
“We stand on the shoulders of generations who understood that freedom demands vigilance, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to something greater than ourselves, greater even than this country,” she continued.
Plaskett encouraged the community to support veterans beyond ceremonial observances.
“While we observe this day with parades and ceremonies, let us commit to honor our veterans every day through access to quality health care, economic opportunities, and recognitions that they have rightly earned,” she said. “This is not merely about gratitude expressed once a year. It’s about our actions every day to ensure that those who serve us receive the support that they need.”
