Beacon lit by youths of various social groups Photo: VINO

Cadets participating in Diamond Jubilee march (June 4 2012) Photo: VINO

Audience viewing the burning of the Beacon Photo: VINO

Among the celebration that took place on June 4, 2012, a total of 313 of the Government’s civil workers were honoured and awarded with the Medal of Honour, presented by the Governor His Excellency Boyd McCleary who represented the Queen.

The Medal of Honour was presented to civil workers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (182), Emergency Medical Technical Unit(7), Fire and Rescue services(44), Her Majesty’s prison (41)and the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (27).

In addition, 12 civil servants were also awarded for being the longest serving employees of different government posts.

Prior to the event, representatives from different groups of the community took part in a march from the Water Front Drive in Road Town to the Queen Elizabeth II Park.

The groups in attendance were The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Virgin Islands Cadet Corps, Fire and Rescue Services, Her Majesty’s Prison, Agape Total Life Academy, Boy Scouts, BVI Red Cross, Enis Adams Early Act, Enis Adams Primary School, Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, Francis Lettesome Primary School, Girls Guide, Girls Brigade, Guyanese Association, HLSCC Jazz Ensemble, Isabella Morris Primary School, Ivan Dawson Primary School, Nevis Alliance Progressive Society, Pathfinders and the Advent Heartbeat, St. Pauls Junior Club and Virgin Islands Search and rescue.

Later that evening, the people of the Virgin Islands along with Government officials and Governor McCleary returned to the Park where they awaited the lighting of the Queen’s Jubilee beacon.

The Beacon was lit by representatives from the Cadet Corps, Boys Brigade, BVI Boy Scouts and the winner of the Governor’s office Open house.

Along with that Beacon, three others were lit in the territory. In Anegada at the Government’s Compound, Virgin Gorda at the Fire Field and in Jost Van Dyke at the School grounds.

Over 4200 Beacons were lit across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Commonwealth and Overseas UK Territories in celebration of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

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