Men and women who died in the line of duty were recognized on Memorial Day for their courageous and noble acts of protecting the nation during graveside and seaside ceremonies, along with a parade Monday morning in downtown Christiansted.
In observance of Memorial Day, family, friends and well-wishers praised fallen comrades who gave their lives in service.
This year’s theme was “Honor and Remember!” The event began at Bassin Triangle where a horde of comrades charged to the Christiansted cemetery, where the American Legion Post had decorated the graves of the fallen comrades with flags, for a ceremony honoring fallen soldiers. 
This year commanders and chaplains held a special graveside tribute to Raphael Sebastian Munchez Sr., who friends and family members acknowledged as being a warm-hearted individual who gave back to the community by volunteering at local organizations.
The event continued with the Boy Scouts of America, the Virgin Islands National Guard 73rd Army Band, and JROTC from St. Croix Central High School and St. Croix Educational Complex High School parading downtown Christiansted toward the waterfront and bandstand where a seaside ceremony honoring all of the departed comrades at sea took place. During the ceremony, VING firing squad fired 21 guns shots into the air in salute of the fallen.
During remarks from the bandstand, Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone said Memorial Day “is perhaps one of the most sacred holidays in America.”
VING human resource officer Glenda Mathurin-Lee delivered the Memorial Day address, asking those at the bandstand to look at the men and women in uniform – as well as to look at each other. “We are in America’s paradise,” she said.
Mathurin-Lee said, “One word, hero, H-E-R-O” came to mind as the dominant description for the brave soldiers in the United States who died in the line of duty. “H is for heart of service, E for excellence, R for respect and O is for outstanding commitment,” Mathurin-Lee said.
She added that Memorial Day allowed loved ones to know that the soldiers have not been forgotten.
Seeing the comrades charging down King Street in their uniforms inspired Marlon Cintron. “It’s just a great feeling seeing them in their uniform because it motivates me to do something with my life,” Cintron said.
Although Cintron said he dropped out of high school, the 17-year-old still has goals and aspirations. He wants to join the army or navy.
The event came to a close with Enrique Romero Nieves of American Legion Post #102 holding a roll call of all of the territory’s deceased veterans from 2000 to 2014.
On Sunday, Post members placed flags on all veterans’ graves and attended church services at three churches. A concert was also held at the Vern Richards Veterans Park in Frederiksted where the VING 73rd Army Band performed.
According to the National Guard, Memorial Day is also referred to as Decoration Day. It was established by the Grand Army of the Republic on May 5, 1868. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by the U.S. Congress, who designated the last Monday in May as the day for its observance.
