March 31, 2008 — A cool ocean breeze ruffled yellow and white tents on the grounds of the V.I. Capitol Building Monday, as the sweet sounds of the V.I. National Guard Band wrapped Transfer Day ceremonies in the musical notes of the territory's past and present.
From the "V.I. March" to bright quelbe music, the band put a large crowd of spectators at ease, and set the stage for the official exchanging of the flags. To mark the event, the flags — first Denmark's Dannebrog, then the stars and stripes — flew proudly on a 50-foot pole donated by the Danish government.
The flagpole is an exact replica of the one used during the original Transfer Day ceremony held in 1917, according to Soren Blak, Danish consul general to the Virgin Islands. The pole is divided into two pieces, like a ship's mast, with the base made of Old Danish oak and poles of laminated pine to ensure flexibility. While the mast is made of steel, the base holds no metal and is bound together with wooden nails and gatherings.
Blak said the pole would help keep alive the territory's shared history with Denmark and the lessons learned as the Virgin Islands transitioned from Danish rule.
"It symbolizes the importance of remembering our relationship with one another — a necessary reminder if we are to forge ahead from a somber past into a fertile future," Blak said.
Evoking images of the first Transfer Day ceremony, keynote speaker Rick Grant said remembering and honoring the territory's past is the only way to "capitalize on the actions and build on the legacy of our forefathers."
Grant, a student at the University of the Virgin Islands, likened the community to a glass half filled with water.
"There are two parts to every community — those that pour and those that drink," he said. "The family, the clergy, Education officials and the government play an important role in pouring into our community. It's a huge responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Young people, you are expected to drink from the glass, but what you will contribute, or pour back in is equally as important. Give back to the community — be a mentor, big brother or big sister, or simply give some of your time to a local religious institution. Help us continue to write our history, and then we can say that the glass has been replenished."
Meanwhile, the territory is embarking on another significant venture — writing its own constitution, Delegate Donna M. Christensen said earlier in the ceremony. As residents make the push for self-governance closer to home, efforts are underway in the U.S. House of Representatives to put Virgin Islanders on equal footing with other states and territories, she said — namely, ensuring the territory gains the right to vote for president and isn't disadvantaged by federal zoning or treasury laws.
Building on Christensen's remarks, Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone said that in writing a constitution, Virgin Islanders should recall the significance of the first Transfer Day ceremony and see the need, 91 years later, to craft a document written "by residents living right here on our beautiful shores."
"Let this not be just another Transfer Day," he said. "Let it be another milestone on the path toward transitioning ourselves from being illegitimate Americans into legitimate, bona fide American citizens."
Looking ahead to the territory's 100th Transfer Day ceremony, Gov. John deJongh Jr. said the territory will be judged at that point by whether it has moved forward in areas such as education and finance.
"Yes, we can't vote for president, but our president knows where the Virgin Islands is, and we're working on that," he said. "Yes, our soldiers continue to go out and fight, but 89 of them came home this weekend … yes, we can't vote on the floor of the House of Representatives, but we can vote in subcommittee, and we will continue to work on that, as well."
The Constitutional Convention, deJongh said, will be a question of successful maturity or failure.
"The bottom line is that in the end, we have to — like Mr. Grant said — make sure we're the ones that fill the glass, not take away from the glass," he said.
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