Governor Issues Holiday Message

 My Fellow Virgin Islanders:

Cecile and I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with friends, family, fellowship, and great food.

In our view Thanksgiving is not just one day of the year, in many ways, the Thanksgiving Holiday is the most defining of all United States holidays because it represents our national gratitude for all blessings that have been bestowed upon us, collectively and individually.

As citizens of the great United States, we enjoy enormous blessings – religious liberty, free speech, protection under the laws, security, and a myriad of other liberties that we normally take for granted. Let us give thanks for these freedoms and express special gratitude to those men and women who spend their days and weekends protecting the American way of life.

This Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend is a time to open our hearts and share whatever we can with family, friends, neighbors, and the community. Let us give thanks for the numerous men and women who reach out to others, not so fortunate, to offer. These generous people make a world of difference to others who are disadvantaged or isolated. Just the simple act of thanking someone for what they have done goes a long way in making others feel appreciated. Simple acts of kindness characterize the Thanksgiving holiday.

Cecile and our children hope that you continue to enjoy this Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. We want to express our appreciation for the support and loyalty of the people of the Virgin Islands, especially over the last eight years. We have faced great difficulties and celebrated hard-won triumphs together.

May God bless you, your families, and our beloved Virgin Islands!

John P. de Jongh, Jr.
Governor