The American Legions of the Virgin Islands will host its 41st Annual American Legion District Convention on Saturday, May 15, at the Myron G. Danielson American Legion Post No. 85 Headquarters, Hospital St., Christiansted. The convention will begin at 10 a.m. and last throughout the day. Legionnaires from all posts in the territory will assemble to discuss issues affecting V.I. veterans and prepare an agenda for the Department of Puerto Rico Convention next month in Puerto Rico. Guest speaker for the convention is Shenita Washington,assistant Director of the VA Caribbean Healthcare System.
The American Legion will also render a special tribute to Armed Forces Day, the deployed members of the V.I. National Guard and all deployed members of the Armed Forces.
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense.
In an excerpt from the Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, President Harry Truman stated: “Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America’s defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense.