About Heroes and Foreparents Day
This holiday on the third Monday in October was first celebrated in 2021.
Originally named Heroes and Forefathers Day, the name was changed to Heroes and Foreparents Day in October 2021.
In a revamp of the British Overseas Territory's public holidays to better reflect Virgin Islands culture and history, this holiday replaces St. Ursula's Day.
Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley explained that replacing St. Ursula’s Day with Heroes and Forefathers Day in October will afford the territory a chance to recognise important Virgin Islanders of the past.
“It was recognised that we needed a day to celebrate people in our community who made contributions to the development of our society,” Dr. Wheatley explained.
Heroes’ and Foreparents Day holiday honours pioneers and outstanding community servants in fisheries and agriculture, boat building, health, business, politics, public administration, the arts and religion.
National Heroes and Foreparents Day will be observed on Monday October 21 and will highlight the legacy of the Territory’s ten national heroes namely,
- Pereen Georges,
- Shelly Martin,
- Augustus McCleverty,
- Obadiah Dawson,
- Henry Garnet,
- Isaac Glanville Fonseca,
- Carlton deCastro,
- Theodolph Faulkner,
- H. Lavity Stoutt and
- Noel Lloyd.
The men and women who built the Virgin Islands will be recognised for their contributions to the creation of the Virgin Islands we know today. Each one of them played a pivotal role in advocating for freedom, justice, and the advancement of the Virgin Islands
A holiday to mark national heroes is commonplace in many countries throughout the Caribbean.
