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The Best of St. Croix |
Transfer Day 2008 |
Transfer Day in the Virgin Islands marks the date of March 31, 1917 when Denmark sold the collection of islands to the United States. The Danish citizens on the island were given the option of becoming United States citizens within ten years of the transfer, or remaining Danish subjects and moving to Denmark. Today, there is a question of status and some contention between groups about the validity of the sale of the islands without a consensus vote of the then living general population. We are witnessing, this year, the fifth Constitutional Convention's attempt to provide for the now living population of the Virgin Islands a Constitution of our own. |
The celebration of the Transfer took place, again this year, at the Lawaetz Museum in the rainforest. |
Mrs Sally Lawaetz bestows an honor on Mr. Robert Merwin. |
The Santa Cruz band performed the Danish National Anthem and the Virgin islands March among other selections. |
The Danish Ambassador, , and Governor John deJongh and First Lady Cecile deJongh were present for the proceedings, along with some of our older Virgin Islanders who were alive at the time of the transfer. |
The Delegate to Congress for the Virgin Islands, Dr. Donna Christian Christiansen and her husband were also in attendance. |
Mr. Bill Bass was the Master of Ceremonies representing the Friends of Denmark Society. |
Pastor Wakefield of the Frederiksted Lutheran Church - known as the Dane Church - is here giving the final blessing. |
Musical selections from our youth. |
The quadrille dance is performed also by a younger set of Virgin Islanders. |
After the ceremony was completed, the luncheon began. |
While lunch was being served, we heard selected poems recited by their author, the celebrated Virgin Islands poet, Mr. Richard Schrader. |
The Governor speaks with many of the day's participants. |