Officials, Families Gather for Memorial Day Ceremony on St. Thomas

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Officials, Families Gather for Memorial Day Ceremony on St. Thomas
Government officials and family members of veterans release white birds at the end of a Memorial Day ceremony Monday. (Source photo by Finn Sharpless)

The Virgin Islands Office of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with the American Legion, held a Memorial Day ceremony Monday on St. Thomas honoring service members from the U.S. Virgin Islands who died in military service.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Senate President Milton Potter, other officials, veterans, families and community members attended the event. The program included remarks, a roll call of deceased veterans from St. Thomas and St. John, wreath-laying and the release of 100 birds by relatives of the fallen and government officials.

Speakers throughout the ceremony focused on military sacrifice, civic participation and remembrance. Potter said Memorial Day served as a reminder that the freedoms Americans exercise today were secured through military service and sacrifice.

Senate President Milton E. Potter delivers remarks during a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday in front of waving flags. (Source photo by Finn Sharpless)

“There’s a silence that settles over a cemetery on Memorial Day that you really cannot find anywhere else. It’s not the silence of emptiness, it’s the silence of weight,” he said. “The accumulated weight of every life laid down, and every family that watched their loved one go and waited for a return that never came.”

He said those freedoms carry a cost that should shape how they are used.

“Every freedom we exercise — to speak, to worship, to vote, to assemble right here in this public space — was bought at a price that we did not pay,” Potter said. He added that the cost of that sacrifice is carried by families. “To those families here today, we do not only honor those whose names are carved in stone, we honor you,” he said.

He said gratitude for the fallen must translate into action. “The least we owe to those freedoms is to use them with intention: to build something, to lift someone, to refuse the easy cynicism that says none of this matters,” Potter said. “It matters. They matter.”

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. delivers remarks during a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday. (Source photo by Finn Sharpless)

Bryan framed the Memorial Day ceremony as a reminder that the country’s current stability and systems were shaped through generations of service and sacrifice. He said many of the conditions Americans live with today, including peace at home and access to public services, should not be taken for granted.

“Every single thing that we enjoy in this country today — this peace, this calm — is not to be taken for granted,” Bryan said. “It’s not something that everybody has.”

He connected that idea to civic responsibility, particularly voting. “The most powerful right that we should be grateful for is the right to exercise our vote that decides who leads us, who represents us,” Bryan said. “They died for that.”

“The greatest way we recognize and honor them is not only today, but every single day we wake up in a country where we are free to determine our destiny because of them,” Bryan said.

“We are here today to pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said American Legion Cmdr. Hillis Benjamin. “They left behind families, friends, dreams and futures so that we could continue to enjoy the liberties we often take for granted.”

After the speeches, organizers read a roll call of veterans from St. Thomas and St. John who died between May 2025 and May 2026. Wreaths were placed in the cemetery, and family members and government officials were invited to participate in the ceremonial release of birds.

“May we always remember those who answered the call and never returned home,” Benjamin said. “Their watch has ended. Ours continues.”

Memorial Day in Cruz Bay Brings Lessons, Declarations and Doves

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Memorial Day in Cruz Bay Brings Lessons, Declarations and Doves
Members of American Legion Post 131, public officials and community supporters gathered Monday at Franklin Powell Sr. Park on St. John for a Memorial Day ceremony honoring service members who died in service to the nation. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)

Members of American Legion Post 131 on St. John gathered with public officials and supporters to honor members of the armed forces who lost their lives in service to the nation. Memorial Day in Franklin Powell Sr. Park provided the setting for a brief but memorable ceremony.

The part most passersby, taxi drivers and customers in a parkside restaurant will likely remember was the rifle shots fired after the reading of the roll of veterans from St. Thomas-St. John, who died since the last observance. Legionnaire Frank Powell Jr. called off 38 names, followed by the rifle salute.

But Sen. Avery Lewis, a scheduled speaker, shared a comment made to him by a member of the public. ”Earlier this morning, someone approached two senators and made a great observation that the flag on Memorial Day should be flown at half-staff until Noon, and then they should be raised to full mast,” Lewis said, “I wanted to say that I loved and appreciated that because sometimes it’s the little simple things that we forget.”

There was also the release of doves at the ceremony’s end by lawmakers Lewis and Angel Bolques, St. John Administrator Shakima Jones-Sprauve, Nellie Varlack representing Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, and members of the American Legion Auxiliary. Photographers snapped as the group flung newfound feathered friends into the air.

But perhaps the most memorable remarks came as the event wrapped up when members of Post 131 spoke to the Source about what Memorial Day meant to them.

“A lot of remembrance of my friends; I went to a military school and I saw one of them die. They didn’t send me to Vietnam — I went to Germany instead … I owe a lot to my friends and Post 131,” said Army Corps of Engineers veteran Jerry Runyon.

Public officials and members of the American Legion Auxiliary prepare to release doves in Franklin Powell Park on Memorial Day. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)

Marine veteran Aubrey Sewer said Memorial Day was a reminder, “that we are proud to live in America and proud to have served in the armed forces.”

Navy vet Alvis Christian said the day reminded him, “of a lot of brothers who died and went for our freedom.” In November 2023, Christian testified before the Legislature on behalf of Kendall Emanuel George, a childhood friend from Coral Bay who was killed in Vietnam.

“Memorial Day is when we honor those veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice; who didn’t make it back home, and so we give God thanks for their souls and hope that one day no one will go back to fight wars again,” said Post 131 Commander Harry Daniel, a retired Army Master Sergeant.

Frank Powell Jr. — better known by his nickname, Jimmy — Memorial Day was a time to reconnect with fellow vets. “Visiting the passed service members and meeting with the others — the veterans and the Legionnaires,” he said, adding he looked forward to a trip with his wife to Kentucky to meet more vets stateside.

Powell served two years in the United States Army.

And Edmund Roberts, a six-year Army vet who helped train recruits for Vietnam, shed a tear for his fellow Virgin Islanders whose names made this year’s roll of the honored dead.

“They passed away,” he said. A tourist walking past the park stopped and thanked him for his service.

Financing, Procurement Progress Pushes Residences at 340 North Closer to Construction

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Financing, Procurement Progress Pushes Residences at 340 North Closer to Construction
Site plan view of the planned Residences at 340 North development in Estate St. Joseph and Rosendahl on St. Thomas. (Submitted photo)

Momentum continues building behind a planned 80-unit housing development overlooking Magens Bay, where developers say months of financing work, federal approvals, environmental reviews, and planning efforts are beginning to give way to the next major push: permits, procurement, and eventually breaking ground.

The Residences at 340 North in Estate St. Joseph and Rosendahl, is aimed at expanding homeownership opportunities on St. Thomas and is now entering a new phase as developers report progress through financing, environmental review, and procurement milestones, according to

When the Source first reported on the project in March 2025, plans called for 64 townhomes and 16 detached single-family homes across approximately 11 acres overlooking Magens Bay. Led by St. Thomas-based A.C. Development, the development team includes St. Thomas native and civil engineer Ajani Corneiro, Director of Communicaions and Brand Strategy Kadeem Huggins, Director of Operations Lindeon Davis, and Jorrell Fredericks, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Brand Management. Designed primarily around middle-income and first-time homebuyers, developers have previously described the effort as a project “by Virgin Islanders, for Virgin Islanders.”

Since then, Corneiro said on a recent call with the Source that the team has spent months navigating financing approvals, federal compliance requirements, environmental studies, and permitting reviews — a process they describe as extensive but necessary to move the project toward construction.

Through work with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority and Community Development Block Grant funding requirements, the development has completed its environmental review period, cleared HUD public comment requirements, and secured approval allowing grant funding to continue advancing through the federal process, though developers said compliance requirements remain before funds are ultimately released. Confirmed is also approximately $7.5 million in grant funding will support the project’s first 22 affordable units. Those units will carry income qualifications and affordability requirements tied to federal housing guidelines, Corneiro said.

The financing and compliance side has also required substantial preparation behind the scenes. Corneiro credited Housing Finance Authority staff with helping guide developers through technical assistance, procurement requirements, compliance reviews, fraud prevention and waste training programs, homeownership program coordination, and federal policy requirements intended to ensure submissions meet standards before advancing further through review. He also said extensive front-end preparation has helped avoid significant revisions or delays during federal processing.

Environmental compliance — often one of the largest hurdles facing major development projects — represented another major milestone. Consultants conducted studies examining air quality, stormwater impacts, streams, construction noise, surrounding environmental conditions, and potential concerns involving native and endangered species. Corneiro and Huggins shared that said additional measures were also incorporated into planning efforts to minimize environmental impacts during construction and long-term neighborhood use. The work builds on commitments Corneiro first outlined publicly last year involving native landscaping components, tree preservation efforts, and strategies intended to address environmental considerations identified during planning.

The proposed 80-unit community is designed to include townhomes, single-family residences, shared community spaces, and infrastructure improvements aimed at expanding housing opportunities for middle-income and first-time homebuyers. (Submitted photo)

Several previously announced building features also remain part of the plan, including Insulated Concrete Form construction technology, or ICF — which the development team previously said would make the community the first in the Caribbean to utilize the building approach at this scale. Corneiro has said the system creates stronger, more energy-efficient homes through insulated wall construction designed to improve durability while lowering long-term energy costs. High-efficiency appliances and low-consumption fixtures are also expected to be included throughout the community.

Corneiro also said the design itself has continued evolving around the site’s natural terrain rather than attempting to eliminate it. Located on steeply sloping property overlooking Magens Bay, the neighborhood concept includes building into portions of the hillside to maximize usable space while incorporating gathering areas and community amenities intended to encourage interaction among residents. Potential agricultural components and shared neighborhood spaces are also under discussion as features developers say are intended to support neighborhood activity and shared space.

As construction moves closer, the development team is also encouraging prospective buyers to begin preparing now. Corneiro said future homeowners should focus on filing taxes consistently, organizing employment documentation, understanding debt-to-income ratios, reducing unnecessary debt where possible, and learning what financing programs may help support homeownership. First-time homebuyer education and understanding lending requirements early, developers said, can help residents position themselves more successfully before entering the mortgage approval process.

Beyond housing supply itself, Corneiro estimates the project’s first phase could generate more than $16 million in construction-related economic activity during an estimated 18-to-24-month build period. He and Huggins said they hope local contractors, tradespeople, apprentices, and smaller businesses position themselves now to participate as opportunities expand. The first phase covers only 22 units, with dozens more homes remaining in the pipeline over the years ahead.

Attention now turns toward permitting approvals and procurement timelines. Contractor qualification requests were issued May 15. A mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m., written questions are due by May 31 at 11:59 p.m., a question-and-answer addendum is expected June 7, and contractor qualifications submissions are due June 14 at 5 p.m. Developers said procurement for the project is being managed through the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority’s Ion Wave platform — a system they said is intended to create a more structured and transparent process for firms seeking opportunities tied to the development — as the project continues pushing toward construction.

At the same time, the team says work continues with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources as permitting moves forward. Corneiro said the goal remains breaking ground as soon as possible, with the team particularly mindful of timing as hurricane season approaches. “If we’re moving dirt in the high point of hurricane season … that’s not a good spot we want to be in,” he said, noting they want to stabilize the site early while continuing to move methodically through approvals. For now, Corneiro said the focus remains on lining up contractors, maintaining momentum, and positioning the project to move quickly once permits are secured.

La Vaughn Belle Named Finalist for Billie Holiday Monument in Queens

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La Vaughn Belle Named Finalist for Billie Holiday Monument in Queens
La Vaughn Belle’s proposal, Billie Holiday: Still, at the Crossing, honors the legendary singer’s interior life, self-fashioning, and emotional authority in a pre-stage moment of self-possession. (Photo courtesy La Vaughn Belle)
Virgin Islands artist La Vaughn Belle has been selected as a finalist to design a new public monument honoring Billie Holiday in Queens, New York, a press release announced. Belle’s proposal, “Billie Holiday: Still, at the Crossing,” reimagines the legendary jazz singer in a moment of self-possession and reflection. According to information released about the project, the monument depicts Holiday emerging from the ground at the edge of a reflective pool, positioned between her public and private self, memory and presence. The proposal focuses on a moment before performance, presenting Holiday dressed for a public appearance while wrapped in a private garment, the press release stated. “When I started going through archival images of Billie Holiday, I kept returning to the quiet ones, not the performance shots, but the ones where a part of her interior world seemed visible,” Belle said in a statement. “She was so intentional about how she presented herself, how she dressed, what she wanted to communicate about Black women and femininity and herself. And yet, she also sacrificed so much to keep singing Strange Fruit.” “I became fascinated by what lived inside of her that made all of that possible. That’s what I chose to make visible. That’s what I wanted to make monumental,” she said. The commission is part of She Built NYC, a New York City public art initiative recognizing women who shaped the city’s history and cultural life. Belle was previously a finalist in the program’s inaugural competition honoring Shirley Chisholm, the release stated. Belle is also the co-creator of “I Am Queen Mary”, a monument that received international attention following its installation, the release stated. Members of the public can view the finalist proposals and submit feedback through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs public feedback process: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dcla/publicart/billieholidayproposals.page

Mango Tango Art Gallery Presents: Fresh Paint and Seasoned Strokes

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Mango Tango Art Gallery Presents: Fresh Paint and Seasoned Strokes
Watercolor of drummers, by Vickie Lawrence. (Image copyright Vickie Lawrence)
Watercolor of drummers by Vickie Lawrence. (Image copyright Vickie Lawrence)

Mango Tango opens the Fresh Paint and Seasoned Strokes Show on Saturday, May 30 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., featuring work from three compelling voices in art: newcomer to the local scene Vickie Lawrence, regional icon Eric Winter — builder, educator, and painter — and master teacher David Millard, whose influence extended from St. Thomas to galleries and museums across the mainland.

The harmonious sounds of Sammy Watts and Ras Abu will fill the parking lot, where appetizers and spirits will be served.

Vickie Lawrence debuted at the gallery in March, and her talent immediately captivated gallery owner Jane Coombes. “When I opened the gallery in 1988, I was fortunate enough to find and represent a superb artist, Dana Wylder. Although Dana works in different media, she excels in watercolor. No one since that time has come even close to her level of excellence — until I met Vickie. The positive response to her work earned her a second show.” Lawrence’s acrylics and watercolors celebrate the rhythmic energy of Carnival and the shimmering color and movement of sea life.

A watercolor by David Millard. (Image courtesy Mango Tango Art Gallery)
A painting by David Millard. (Image courtesy Mango Tango Art Gallery)

David Millard is revered for his inventive exploration of color relationships. His honors include recognition from the National Academy of Design and gold medals from the American Watercolor Society, the New England Watercolor Society, and the Rockport Art Association. He divided his time between St. Thomas and Needham, Massachusetts, teaching and painting in both communities. His career spanned six decades and included more than 30 one-man shows before his passing in 2002. His widely respected instructional books feature numerous paintings of historic Virgin Islands buildings.

A painting by Eric Winter. (Image courtesy Mango Tango Art Gallery)
A painting by Eric Winter. (Image courtesy Mango Tango Art Gallery)

Eric Winter arrived in the Virgin Islands in 1954 following completion of his Fine Arts degree at the University of Maryland. A true Renaissance man, he worked as both a building contractor and an accomplished boat builder, while maintaining an active studio practice as a painter and teacher. Antilles School and the College of the Virgin Islands were fortunate to count him among their art faculty. Winter’s oil-on-canvas paintings capture the beauty, joy, and serenity of West Indian life. He left behind a treasure trove of work when he passed in 2001.

The show continues for one month. To learn more or view the exhibition, visit mangotangoart.com or call 340-777-3060.

WAPA Announces Rotating Outages for STT-STJ District on Memorial Day

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WAPA Announces Rotating Outages for STT-STJ District on Memorial Day

St. Thomas-St. John customers are on a rotating schedule of outages Monday due to “reduced power generation capacity,” the V.I. Water and Power Authority announced.

In a press release issued just after 9:30 a.m. on the Memorial Day holiday, WAPA set the following schedule, which it said is subject to change based on demand:

10 a.m.–noon Feeder 6A Feeder 8A Feeder 7A Mall Noon–2 p.m. Feeder 7B Feeder 10B 2 p.m.–4 p.m. Feeder 7C Feeder 8A 4 p.m.–6 p.m. Feeder 9E Feeder 8B/7A 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Feeder 9C Feeder 8A 8 p.m.–10 p.m. Feeder 7B Feeder 8A Feeder 7A 10 p.m.–midnight Feeder 7C Feeder 6A Unsure of which feeder you are on? Find out here.

The Gri Gri Project, Rhyme and Lime Poetry Event

Mat Probasco
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The Gri Gri Project, Rhyme and Lime Poetry Event
On Saturday, May 30, Rhyme and Lime STJ and the Gri Gri Project will host the next Rhyme and Lime at Bajo El Sol Gallery on St. John. Starting at 7 p.m., attendees can share their original works, works by a poet they admire, or they can sit and enjoy the poetry.
Joeltica Rogers gives crowd a lively performance at the National Poetry Out Loud Competition today. (Photo courtesy James Kegley)
The suggested theme is, “Truth, Power, and Satire”, and this month’s featured poet is Joeltica Rogers, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud Finalist who represented the U.S. Virgin Islands in this year’s national competition. The event will also feature jazz and R&B selections by Pam1Love. Joeltica Rogers is a rising senior at Charlotte Amalie High School. Through her hard work and dedication, and the coaching of Wendy Bougouneau-Andrews, Joeltica became the 2026 U.S. Virgin Islands Poetry Out Loud Champion. She then advanced to the national competition in Washington D.C. in late April, where she competed amongst nine other finalists for the national champion title and a $20,000 grand prize. Poetry Out Loud is a nationally held poetry recitation competition that began in 2005. The competition aims to engage students in literary history, improve their public speaking skills, and build their confidence. The competition begins at school level or through non-profit organizations, and then those winners compete at the state or territorial level to qualify for the national competition in Washington D.C. Prizes are awarded to the student champions, their coaches, and their school. Poetry Out Loud on the national level is made possible by a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and it is hosted by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts on the local level. For this edition of Rhyme and Lime, works inspired by truth, revelations, power, resistance, and satire are encouraged, but not required. For more information, please email the host Raven Phillips at ravenphillipslove@gmail.com, or call Bajo El Sol Gallery at 340-693-7070. Bajo El Sol Gallery & Art Bar is home to thought-provoking monthly exhibitions, readings by award winning V.I. writers & poets, documentary screenings on some of the Caribbean’s most respected thinkers, as well as talks by local academics and visiting curators. Bajo El Sol Gallery is also home of the Gri Gri Project.  The Gri Gri Project’s mission is the creation of interpretive exhibitions, critical writing, events and archives related to the cultural patrimony of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the broader Caribbean region.

Governor Bryan’s Memorial Day Message: For We Are Grateful

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Governor Bryan’s Memorial Day Message: For We Are Grateful
There are freedoms we enjoy every day that came at a cost most of us will never fully know.
(Submitted photo)
On Memorial Day, we pause not to celebrate war, but to remember those who never came home. We honor the brave men and women who answered the call to serve and gave their lives in defense of our nation and the ideals we hold dear. Their sacrifice was not measured only on distant battlefields. It is measured in the birthdays they missed, the families they left behind, the dreams they never had the opportunity to fulfill, and the future they secured for generations they would never meet. This year, as we observe Memorial Day under the theme “For We Are Grateful,” we are reminded that gratitude is more than words. It is a commitment to remember. It is a promise that the lives of our fallen heroes will not fade from our collective memory. Here in the Virgin Islands, we pay special tribute to the sons and daughters of these islands who wore the uniform of our nation with honor, courage, and pride. Their legacy lives on in the freedoms we enjoy, the opportunities we pursue, and the communities we continue to build. As we gather with family and friends, attend ceremonies, visit memorials, or simply observe a moment of quiet reflection, let us remember those whose sacrifice made our way of life possible. To the families who carry the weight of that loss every day, know that your loved ones are remembered, honored, and deeply appreciated by a grateful Territory. Today, and always, we remember. For we are grateful.

Frederiksted Waterfront Memorial Honors Virgin Islands Victims of 9/11

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Frederiksted Waterfront Memorial Honors Virgin Islands Victims of 9/11
Veterans, elected officials, first responders, family members and community residents gathered for the emotional ceremony ahead of Memorial Day. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
In a special Memorial Day tribute, members of American Legion Bromley Berkeley Post 133 gathered along the Frederiksted waterfront Sunday to dedicate a permanent memorial honoring Virgin Islanders lost in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 — a solemn moment of remembrance nearly 25 years after the tragedy changed the nation forever. Veterans, elected officials, first responders, family members and community residents gathered for the emotional ceremony ahead of Memorial Day. The memorial stands as a tribute not only to the thousands killed during the attacks, but also to Virgin Islanders whose lives were forever connected to that day. “This monument is a declaration that these lives matter, and that this community remembers,” said Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett. “The Virgin Islands will always honor those who gave everything in service to this nation.”
Unveiling of the tribute on Sunday in honor of the victims from the U.S. Virgin Islands who lost their lives during 9/11. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The idea for the memorial was first introduced in 2021 by Comrade Charles Farrell of American Legion Bromley Berkley Post 133, who said the Frederiksted waterfront was missing a permanent tribute to the victims of 9/11. “We’re going into 25 years and it’s not there,” Farrell said. “And that’s the monument for the 9/11 destruction. And I said, that is it.”
Comrade Charles Farrell of American Legion Bromley Berkley Post 133, salutes during a program to commemorate the new memorial honoring the victims. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Farrell said the project faced years of paperwork, government approvals and logistical challenges before becoming reality. “It was not an easy task,” he said. “The paperwork, the red tape with the government and everything like that — there’s certain rules and regulations you have to go through. But here we are today.” Commander Caroline Fawkes of American Legion Bromley Berkley Post 133 described the memorial as “more than a stone structure.” “It is a symbol of remembrance for the lives lost on September 11, 2001,” Fawkes said. “It reflects the grief carried by families, the resilience of survivors, and the enduring spirit of a people who refuse to be broken.”
Members of the St. Croix Educational Complex JROTC present arms in tribute to victims of 9/11. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Fawkes also acknowledged the many agencies and individuals who helped bring the project to life, including the Sports, Parks and Recreation Department, the Property and Procurement Department, planners, draftsmen and local fabricators. Remarks were also delivered by Sen. Novelle Francis Jr., representing the 36th Legislature, and St. Croix Administrator Sammuel Sanes on behalf of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach. Francis, who served as police chief at the time of the attacks, called the memorial a lasting reminder of resilience and unity. “We are preserving memory. We are honoring sacrifice,” Francis said. “We’re ensuring that future generations never forget the lessons, the pain, and the unity that emerged from that tragic day.” A highlight of the ceremony was remarks from retired firefighter John Fila of the New York City Fire Department, who served with Engine 54 in Manhattan and responded in the aftermath of the attacks. Fila recounted the devastating loss of 15 firefighters from his firehouse on Sept. 11 and described the emotional toll of returning to the station where grieving family members waited for answers. “I cannot describe to you how absolutely low we felt when we walked in that firehouse and people asked us, ‘Did you find Dan? Did you find Alan?’ and we had no answers for them because we didn’t,” he said.
St. Patrick Catholic School Steelpan Orchestra play during 9/11 tribute. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
He also reflected on the overwhelming support firefighters received from across the country in the days following the attacks. “That is the true bond and brotherhood of firefighters,” Fila said. “No matter what goes on, we always go to support each other.” Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized the deep connection between the Virgin Islands, military service and emergency response. The names of Virgin Islands victims were read aloud during a bell-ringing ceremony followed by the playing of taps. Honored names included Felix “Bobby” Calixte, John Holland, Christian Maltby, William Henry Jr., Chris M. Kirby, and Staff Sgt. Madlyn A. White and Claudia S. Sutton. Family representatives later received commemorative coins as symbols of remembrance, strength and unity.
Children from Claude O. Markoe Elementary School band play “Rain Forest” during memorial unveiling. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The memorial pillar, built by local fabricator Clarence Henry of Iron Lion, now stands prominently along the Frederiksted waterfront, where organizers hope it will serve as a permanent place of reflection for generations to come. “We will remember. We will honor. And we will never forget,” Fawkes said.

Maho Bay Welcomes 361 Swimmers to Joe Kessler’s Beach 2 Beach Race

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Maho Bay Welcomes 361 Swimmers to Joe Kessler’s Beach 2 Beach Race
Swimmers gather at Maho Bay on St. John Sunday morning before the start of Joe Kessler’s Beach 2 Beach Power Swim. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Two swimmers from Fairhope, Alabama, led the field Sunday at Joe Kessler’s Beach 2 Beach Power Swim on St. John, with 16-year-old David Rainer winning the one-mile short course men’s division and 19-year-old Suzanne Rainer topping female competitors in the same race from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay. David Rainer finished the short course race from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay in 21 minutes, 45.4 seconds. Suzanne Rainer won the women’s division with a time slightly over 24 minutes. By the time they crossed the finish line Sunday, the Rainers were already familiar names in the event’s record books. In 2023, David — then 13 — placed third overall in the short course race, while Suzanne, along with Leighton and Virginia Raider, won the long course relay. Three hundred sixty-one swimmers entered the waters of Maho Bay in staggered starts beginning around 8 a.m. Sunday. Long course, unassisted swimmers led the way on the 3.5-mile route from Maho Bay to Hawksnest Beach. Organizers with Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park said the oldest competitor was 86 and the youngest was five years old.
Volunteers check in swimmers moments before the start of Joe K’s Beach 2 Beach 2026. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Race officials posted results throughout the day as swimmers completed the one-mile short course, the 2.25-mile intermediate course from Maho to Trunk Bay and the long course. John Flowers, 54, placed second in the men’s short course division with a finish time of 22 minutes, 59.7 seconds. Edward Uszenski finished third in 23 minutes, 0.8 seconds. Mia Sayan, 16, placed second in the women’s short course division with a time of 24 minutes, 07 seconds. Twenty-eight-year-old Kelsey Hahn took third place in 26 minutes, 35.3 seconds.
Leslie Carle and friends prepare to take the plunge at Maho Bay. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
In the intermediate race, 17-year-old Sasha Poe claimed the overall win with a time of 49 minutes, 40.7 seconds and also led the women’s division overall. Katie Papa, 32, finished second overall in 51 minutes, 19.1 seconds, followed by Quinnton Caines in third at 51 minutes, 35 seconds. Sixteen-year-old Caines led the men’s intermediate division. Troy Lane, 51, followed with a time of 56 minutes, 7.8 seconds. Chris Delafuente placed third in the intermediate men’s division with a finish time of 57 minutes, 56.1 seconds. Twenty-seven competitors under age 18 participated in Sunday’s races. There were also three relay teams entered in the long course event, including one made up of swimmers who have participated in all 23 Beach 2 Beach Power Swim races. “This year I’m in a relay with the other two people who’ve done every one — Alfredo Del Omo and Karen Cannell. We’re calling ourselves the Venerable Veterans,” former Senator-at-Large Craig Barshinger said. Barshinger traveled from Colorado, where he lives with his family, to compete.
Craig Barshinger ready to swim a long-course relay race. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
The atmosphere before the race was relaxed, with swimmers greeting friends and fellow competitors along the shoreline. Nancy Veldren said she returned to the event after stepping away for several years. She participated in the first Beach 2 Beach Power Swim in 2004. “Twenty-twenty-six was her fourth outing since making her comeback,” Veldren said. For Leslie Carle of San Rafael, California, Sunday marked her first appearance in the race. “We’ve been here for almost a week, so we’ve had a lot of practice with all the beaches,” Carle said. Racers, volunteers and supporters gathered later in the day for an after-party at Cinnamon Bay Campground.
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