Heroes & Foreparents Day 'is a sacred moment of remembrance & gratitude'- Premier
Heroes and Foreparents Day, according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), is not simply a holiday; it is a sacred moment of remembrance and gratitude. Photo: GIS/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said Heroes & Foreparents Day is a day to pause to honour the strength, courage, and vision of those whose shoulders we stand upon, our heroes and foreparents. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Heroes and Foreparents Day, according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), is not simply a holiday; it is a sacred moment of remembrance and gratitude.
Further, according to Premier Wheatley, it is a day to reflect on the sacrifices and struggles of those who paved the way for the freedoms, opportunities, and progress we now enjoy.
"They endured hardship and uncertainty, yet they stood firm in faith, in love of country, and in the belief that a brighter future was possible for generations to come," Premier Wheatley stated in his message to the territory on Heroes and Foreparents Day, being celebrated today, October 20, 2025.
Today, Premier Wheatley said, is a day to pause to honour the strength, courage, and vision of those whose shoulders we stand upon, our heroes and foreparents.
Names that 'echo through our history'
"We remember and celebrate the names that echo through our history—those who have been officially conferred with the title of national hero for the first time in our history: Shelly Martin, Augustus McCleverty, Pereen Georges, Henry Garnett, Obadiah Dawson, Theodolph Failkner, Carlton DeCastro, Isaac Fonseca, Noel Lloyd, Lavity Stoutt. Their courage ignited a spirit of self-determination that still burns in our hearts today."
Premier Wheatley added that the territory also pays tribute to countless unsung heroes: mothers, fathers, educators, farmers, fishermen, community builders, all who worked tirelessly to shape the Virgin Islands into the strong, proud territory we call home.
This year, Heroes and Foreparents Day coincides with the first observance of Diplomatic Week in the Virgin Islands. "This provides an ideal opportunity for us to reflect on the remarkable journey of the Virgin Islands and the role international relations and diplomacy have played in shaping our destiny. Indeed, the work of past and current BVI diplomats and foreign service staff have situated our young nation within the global community, and these achievements have been critically interconnected with our development and progress."
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