Gubernatorial Proclamation - French Heritage Week and Bastille Day

In a proclamation signed this week, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. has designated the week of July 11 as “French Heritage Week” in the Virgin Islands. De Jongh noted that, through Act 5864, the week of July 11 is designated as French Heritage Week. 

“Residents of French heritage are an important citizen group in our Virgin Islands community and it is appropriate that we demonstrate to our residents, neighbors and friends of French descent our feeling of warmth and sincere friendship towards them,” de Jongh said adding, “The expertise of the people of French heritage in the areas of fishing, farming, the professions and other vocations, has contributed significantly to the political, economic, social and cultural progress and growth of the territory.”

“July 14 is celebrated by the French people as Bastille Day in commemoration of the storming and destruction of the Bastille, the state prison in Paris, France on July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution. This was a significant act of bravery against tyranny during the French Revolution and resulted in the establishment of a republic and the freedom of the French people,” de Jongh said.

De Jongh’s proclamation calls on the people of the Virgin Islands to join in the observances associated with French Heritage Week and next Wednesday’s observance of Bastille Day. Activities associated with the observance of French Heritage Week include: a two-day celebration at Sib’s ballpark on July 9-10; the annual kingfish tournament on July 11 at Hull Bay; the governor’s reception at Estate Catharineberg on July 12; a reception sponsored by the honorary French Consulate on July 13; a reception sponsored by the Frenchtown Civic Organization on Bastille Day, July 14 and a two-day celebration in Frenchtown to cap the French Heritage Week festivities on July 17 - 18 sponsored by The Committee for the Betterment of Carenage. 

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