• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

🌺 Virgin Islands History

Vintage Stories from the Virgin Islands

MENUMENU
  • 🛒SHOP NOW
  • BLOG
  • 🇺🇸US VIRGIN ISLANDS
    • St. Thomas 🇺🇸
      • Creque Family Stories
    • St. Croix 🇺🇸
    • St. John 🇺🇸
    • Maritime History ⚓️
  • 🇩🇰DANISH WEST INDIES
    • Hassel Island, DWI
      • Creque Marine Railway History
      • Creque Family History
    • St. Thomas 🇩🇰
    • St. Croix 🇩🇰
    • St. Jan 🇩🇰
    • Maritime History ⚓️
  • 🇻🇬BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
    • Anegada
    • Tortola
    • Norman Island ☠️
    • Peter Island
    • Salt Island
    • Jost van Dyke
    • Virgin Gorda
    • Maritime History ⚓️
  • WORK WITH ME
    • CONTACT
      • 📕 RESOURCES
      • Mystery Photos
  • SHOP AT AMAZON
  • 📚 BECOME ONE OF OUR BOOK RETAILERS
  • My Books 📚

Dedicating the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Park ~ 1945

 

Dedicating the Roosevelt Memorial Park

Years ago, the Coconut Grove Park was the location of many agricultural fairs, celebrations and even the location for the circus when it came to town.

Now, hundreds gathered to celebrate I am an American Day and rededicate the park to the former President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The date was May 20, 1945, five weeks after the President’s death.

A temporary monument was unveiled of President Roosevelt, together with an honor roll of Virgin Islanders serving in the US Armed Forces.  

Honorable Omar Brown, chairman of the celebrations committee, whipped plans into shape for the formal dedication.

With the passing of a resolution, the municipal council authorized the name change.

Dedicating the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in the US Virgin Islands ~ 1945 By Valerie Sims

Judge Herman E. Moore’s Speech

The most forceful and outstanding address delivered that day was given by Judge Herman E. Moore.    

He denounced the philosophy of hate as un-American and laid the cause of hate at the door, of fear.   

There is no room for hate in this great country of ours!  

We know that no man can hate a group unless he fears that group, and no man fears another group unless deep in his own conscious, he feels that the other group has something on the ball, which he is uncertain whether or not he matches.”  

Hatred is not the American way of meeting the problem, he said.
The true American way, as the Judge pointed out, is to find what the other man has on the ball, and to emulate it and surpass it, rather than to hate the man who posses it. 

Only by the practice of brotherhood can this nation maintain a democratic way of life, for the basis of democracy is equality.  

Hate only destroys, as we have seen, men and women, and all that they have built, even civilization itself.  

That is why even in our small way, in  St. Thomas, the evils of prejudices should be avoided.

That which we are victims of, and against, which we fight, should in no way be practiced by us.”

The Roosevelt Memorial Park’s Anniversary

Today marks the 74th anniversary of the dedication of this park and the wise words spoken by Judge Moore.

In 2007, the name was amended to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Veteran’s Park.

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Learn more at amazon.com

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Follow Our Blog!

SaveSave

SaveSave

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Valerie, Welcome!

LOOK INSIDE NOW!

My Book is Available NOW!

Front cover of book
Wholesale orders available!

Search here 🔎

Not on Any Map

Choose a Category 🔎

Pin with me & 12,000 Monthly Viewers!

Pinterest Photos of the Virgin Islands

Silver bracelet

Before our time, an oral history of st john, us virgin islands, dansk vestindien, danish west indies

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 Vintage Virgin Islands, Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy

Reproduction, Reuse, Distribution or Publication of any images or content without written permission is Prohibited.