ST. CROIX — Three years after Governor Albert Bryan Jr. signed Executive Order No. 527-2023 establishing a 17-member commission to develop programs and plan for the territory’s observance of the nation’s 250th anniversary this year, the commission never materialized, leaving a consultant to organize the territory’s commemorative events.
The commission was also responsible for coordinating the observance of the 100th anniversary of U.S. citizenship for Virgin Islanders on January 25, 2027.
According to America250.org, state and territorial commissions are expected to coordinate commemorative activities leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary, organizing events and programs that highlight each jurisdiction’s unique history, culture, and contributions to the broader American story. The commissions serve as local partners to the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, a nonpartisan body established by Congress in 2016 to plan the nation’s 250th anniversary observance.
A four-member interim America250 Planning Committee created by Bryan’s executive order gradually disintegrated after members became frustrated by what they described as a lack of communication and support from Government House.
The committee consisted of Verdel Petersen, of St. Croix; former Senator Janette Millin Young and Malik Sekou, both of St. Thomas; and Carla Sewer, of St. John. The four members were expected to continue serving as the governor’s appointees once the full commission was established.
Petersen said the committee did not accomplish anything during the past three years due to a lack of communication with Government House. She said Sekou was responsible for communicating with the governor’s staff.
“He just wasn’t getting any response, so we couldn’t plan anything,” she said.
Petersen said she participated in a few virtual meetings with America250 representatives from Guam and American Samoa but stopped when she realized there was not any interest from the Virgin Islands government to commemorate the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Sekou, a history and political science professor at the University of the Virgin Islands, said the challenge was obtaining the resources and support necessary to organize a meaningful observance.
“If we wanted to have an effective commemoration that would match the stateside activities, we needed resources,” he said.
After participating in several preliminary meetings, Sekou said he decided to step away at the beginning of this year when it became apparent that his vision for the commemoration differed from that of others involved.
“I thought it was wise that if there’s a different direction with the administration, I should just leave it alone, let them do what they think is wise,” he said.
Young, a former four-term senator, also resigned from the committee.
“I stepped down last year because there was no movement on it,” she said, declining to offer any additional comment.
Sewer said the members of the planning committee never met in person, noting that she only received group emails. She questioned why no dates were ever offered for the committee to convene in person or virtually. She attributed the challenge in getting the members together to a lack of leadership from the executive branch.
“If you’re going to put a group together, you want to have someone to lead them,” she said.
As committee members withdrew and the planned commission failed to materialize, the administration tapped Teri Helenese with the responsibility for organizing America250 activities. Helenese is the Virgin Islands director of state and federal relations and Washington representative.
“Not everyone was available at key times or to meet for meetings, or actually do the mucking work, so the governor just tapped me to make some of these things happen,” she said. “I’m just filling in the gaps here as best I can.”
Despite the organizational setbacks, the territory has participated in several America250 initiatives and has additional events planned throughout the year.
Among the territory’s contributions, students from kindergarten through 12th grade created tiles featuring messages, poems, and artwork that will be incorporated into a massive America250 flag mosaic alongside submissions from states and territories across the country. The completed mosaic is expected to measure approximately 150 feet long and 80 feet wide, or half the size of a football field.
The Virgin Islands Department of Tourism also showcased the territory’s culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., featuring mocko jumbies, local cuisine, and music.
In addition, the territory contributed a letter written by Bryan to be included in a national America250 time capsule that will be buried at Independence National Historical Park in Pennsylvania and opened in 250 years on July 4, 2276, when America celebrates its 500th anniversary.
Helenese said one of the first local America250 initiatives involved clearing land for the Virgin Islands Equestrian Training Center on St. Croix. She said the connection to America250 was appropriate because horses played a central role in the nation’s early development.
The territory has also launched the Inaugural Alexander Hamilton Distinguished Lecture Series, which began with a presentation last Thursday by U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas with approximately 35 people in attendance. The lecture series is expected to feature elected officials from across the country throughout the year.
Additional events are planned, including an enhanced version of the annual St. John Celebration parade that traditionally falls on Independence Day. Helenese said William Hague, principal deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular & International Affairs, is invited to attend the Fourth of July festivities on St. John.
“This is something that he is earnestly looking at,” she said.
Ian Turnbull, director of the Department of Tourism’s Division of Festivals, said the adjustments made to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary during the St. John Celebration include a new layout of the Celebration Village and stage that will accommodate the musicians. He said the musical lineup will include various genres such as rhythm and blues and hip-hop that represent “American flavor.” He also noted an improvement in the fireworks that will be on display on the Fourth of July to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Helenese said more activities are expected before the end of the year.
The first featured program on St. Croix as part of the lecture series will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Florence A. Williams Public Library and will focus on Hamilton’s connection to Christiansted and the historical significance of St. Croix during his formative years.
Bryan shared additional details about the event at the library during a Government House press briefing on Tuesday.
“We’re going to be doing a special dedication for the 250th anniversary of the nation, and for one of the [Founding] Fathers of the nation, Alexander Hamilton, who we’re going to be dedicating a spot right there in downtown, where he worked as a young man before he went to Washington, D.C.,” Bryan said.
Every state and territory including the Virgin Islands received $10,000 from the national America250 organization, of which approximately $8,000 has already been spent to organize the planned events, according to Helenese. Any additional funding will have to come from local government appropriations or fundraising efforts.
The Virgin Islands’ American neighbor to the west, Puerto Rico, is planning a series of civic ceremonies, military commemorations, cultural festivals, educational competitions, community service initiatives, and artistic performances are scheduled across all 78 municipalities through the official July 4 celebration and beyond for its America250 commemoration. The events will include a symbolic replica of the Liberty Bell that will travel across all municipalities with civic ceremonies, educational activities, and public engagement at each stop. Public school students enrolled in summer programs will gather to form a living flag, recreating the flags of the United States and Puerto Rico through their own bodies and movement. The flags of the United States, Puerto Rico, and America250 will fly together as part of an installation initiative on the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge, creating a visible daily reminder of the island’s participation in the national commemoration. A permanent plaque marking Puerto Rico’s participation in the 250th anniversary will be unveiled on July 1. A commemorative Governor’s Cup horse race is set for July 5, elevating one of the island’s most enduring civic and sporting traditions into the national celebration. Cultural programs will include the America250 Gala Concert Series featuring three concerts leading into July 4 with live music celebrating Puerto Rico’s cultural heritage and its relationship with the U.S. Armed Forces. The America250 Regatta will be a large-scale maritime celebration that will include cultural performances. Military honors programs included a formal observance on National Borinqueneers Day, April 13, honoring the soldiers of the 65th Infantry Regiment, the Borinqueneers, whose service and sacrifice represent the highest expression of Puerto Rico’s commitment to the nation. Other military observances were scheduled to mark National Poppy Day, Memorial Day, Women Veterans Day, Purple Heart Day, and the Coast Guard birthday with official ceremonies, honoring the Puerto Rican men and women who have served, been wounded, and died in defense of the United States. A series of education and community programs will include educational competitions across all municipalities as students will compete in public speaking, poetry, essay writing, visual arts, sculpture, and painting. Puerto Rico’s public-school athletes will compete for the opportunity to represent the island in the Patriot Games in the United States, carrying Puerto Rico’s name onto a national stage as part of the semiquincentennial year. A community service initiative, “The 250 Gift,” asks Puerto Ricans to give something back in the year the nation turns 250 by participating in beach cleanups, community surveys, volunteer projects, and educational initiatives. A community race, the “America250 Historic 5K Run,” will trace historic landmarks across Puerto Rico, concluding with a cultural fair featuring local artisans, traditional crafts, live music, and family programming.
