Senator Marvin Blyden, chairman of the Committee on Housing, Transportation, and Telecommunications believes that Veterans should not only be thanked for their service to the nation on Veteran’s Day but throughout the year.
“We are also honored and thankful to have this opportunity to wish a happy veteran’s day to the brave men and women who served or have served in the armed forces of our nation. Not only should we thank these heroes and 'sheroes' on Veterans Day, but we should thank them all throughout the year,” he said during his opening statement Wednesday.
“As Americans, we have the right which we often exercise to agree or disagree with the decisions that may place our service members in harm’s way, but to my mind, there is no room for disagreement on this fact,” he said.
“Those men and women who willingly laid down their lives to protect the lives and freedoms for those of us at home deserves our undying support and respect and we own them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid,” Mr. Blyden told the committee which was broadcast live via Facebook and youtube.
“So on Veterans Day and all days on behalf of my family, staff, and behalf of the members on this committee and the Legislature, we say thank you, thank you for all who have served in our nation's military,” he said.
Mr. Blyden reminded the committee that November 11 is also very significant to the military. “It is important to recognize that November 10th is the United States Marine Corps Day in which we celebrate the birthdate of the Marine Corps which was established by the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775. As such we wish to give special recognition to this branch of our military which like the US Army and the US Navy are even older than our declaration of Independence,” he shared.
Recently on November 1, the Virgin Islands celebrated D. Hamilton Jackson Day, also known as Liberty Day. Mr. Blyden in his opening statement described that day as “one of the most important days in our calendar as it is a milestone in our struggle for freedom of the press in the Virgin Islands.”
Elaborating on the benefits of a free press, he said, “Today we think of freedom of the press as a concept that applies mainly to our commercial media. It is easy to forget but the right of the free press was and continues to be one of the most important freedoms that contribute to the existence a democracy and a democratic society.”
He continues, “It is a right that enables community organizers and political activists to communicate to the public in order to ensure that a public debate is now properly invested by public interest and as such it is rightfully important for us to commemorate that day and to maintain the safeguards that even allows us to have a concept of government of the people, for the people, by the people,” he said.
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