Memorial Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Memorial Day is a territorial legal holiday observed on the last Monday in May. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, official remembrances honor fallen service members and recognize the territory’s own connections to military service.[1][2]
Status and calendar rule
Virgin Islands law lists Memorial Day as a legal holiday, and a Government of the Virgin Islands collective bargaining agreement includes it among holidays applicable to covered government employees. That agreement gives the date as the last Monday in May.[1]
The agreement says that when a holiday falls on Sunday, the Governor may, by proclamation, grant administrative leave on the following Monday. Memorial Day is set on a Monday.[1]
Meaning in the territory
Memorial Day honors members of the U.S. armed forces who died in service. Federal law designates the last Monday in May as Memorial Day and calls for observance focused on peace.[3]
The territory’s military history gives the observance a local connection. A territorial governor’s Memorial Day message recalled that men from the Danish West Indies fought at Gettysburg in 1863, before the islands’ transfer to the United States, and that Virgin Islanders later served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War.[2]
Ceremonies and local observance
A Government of the Virgin Islands account describes Memorial Day parades followed by brief ceremonies on St. Thomas and St. Croix. It gives Christiansted’s Bassin Triangle and Charlotte Amalie’s Western Cemetery as starting points for those parades.[2]
Those are documented examples rather than a guaranteed annual program or a schedule for every island. The Governor’s message encouraged residents to attend commemorations and remember service members who died, while also recognizing Virgin Islanders serving in the armed forces.[2]
Closures and getting around
The holiday’s legal status and government employee agreements support treating it as a day off for covered public employees. The District Court of the Virgin Islands also lists Memorial Day among its court holidays; its schedule is published separately, so check the relevant year’s notice before making plans.[1][4]
The Virgin Islands Port Authority says its administrative offices close on federal and local holidays. Ferry services are operated by different companies, and the Port Authority’s schedule page notes that some listed services do not run on holidays. Check the operator’s latest schedule before traveling between islands.[5]
The Port Authority closes its administrative offices on federal and local holidays.[5]
Memorial Day FAQs
When is Memorial Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
It falls on the last Monday in May. The territory’s government employee agreement lists that same rule.[1]
Is Memorial Day a day off?
It is a legal holiday, and government employee agreements list it as an applicable holiday for covered workers. Check with a particular employer about its schedule.[1]
Where have official Memorial Day ceremonies been held?
A government account records parade and ceremony plans on St. Thomas and St. Croix, with routes beginning in Charlotte Amalie and Christiansted.[2]
Are shops and ferries open?
Shop hours vary, so check with the business. Ferry schedules vary by operator, and some services do not run on holidays, so check directly before travelling.[5]
Sources and references
Sources used for Memorial Day in U.S. Virgin Islands:
- COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT between GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS- Division of Personnel, Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Memorial Day remains a sacred occasion in the USVI- Government of the United States Virgin Islands
- U.S.C. Title 36 - Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations- U.S. Government Publishing Office
- Court Holidays- District Court of the Virgin Islands
- Seaport Schedules- Virgin Islands Port Authority