The V.I. Office of Veterans Affairs has released the official schedule for the 2025 Veterans Day Parades and Ceremonies, set to take place across the territory on Tuesday, November 11. The department has also clarified that there will be no parade or ceremony on St. John this year due to guidance received from higher headquarters involving the V.I. National Guard’s participation.
The St. Croix and St. Thomas events will proceed as planned, with each district hosting its own parade and ceremony to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
On St. Croix, the day’s events begin at 9:00 a.m. in Christiansted, where Wilfred Tuitt will be honored. The parade will start at the intersection of King Street and Market Street in Time Square, continuing eastward on Kings Street before turning right onto Hospital Street at the National Park Grounds. Marching contingents will pass the reviewing stand near American Legion Post #85 and proceed to the David C. Canegata Ballpark for dismissal. The official ceremony will be held immediately afterward at the David C. Canegata Recreation Center.
The St. Thomas parade will take place later that afternoon, beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Veterans Drive and honoring Henry Powell. The procession will start from the Emile Griffith Park parking lot, proceeding east along Veterans Drive, before turning left at the old fire station (Forte Strade). Marching units will then make a right onto Norre Gade, where the parade will pass the reviewing stand positioned on the right-hand side before the St. Thomas Federal Credit Union. The route continues past the Memorial Moravian Church for dismissal, followed by the official ceremony at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Veterans Memorial Park.
The Office of Veterans Affairs noted that while the St. John event will not take place this year, residents are encouraged to attend the parades on St. Croix or St. Thomas to pay tribute to Virgin Islands veterans. Officials reiterated that the St. Thomas parade will serve as the combined St. Thomas/St. John District Parade and Ceremony for 2025.
In its announcement, the Office addressed speculation that no parades would occur this year, confirming that only St. John is affected by the change. “The rumor may have started because of the Virgin Islands National Guard not being able to participate due to guidance received from higher headquarters,” the release stated.
Organizations wishing to participate in either of the district parades are invited to contact the Office of Veterans Affairs in their respective district for coordination. The St. Thomas/St. John office can be reached at (340) 774-8387, and the St. Croix office at (340) 773-8387. Additional information is available at https://veterans.vi.gov or by emailing [email protected].
For more details, residents can also reach Director Patrick Farrell at (340) 774-VETS (8387).
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