| WHEREAS, April 7th
of each year has been set aside, pursuant to
Act. Bo. 5147, as "Governor Cyril Emmanuel King
Day" to recognize the outstanding public
service of this great Virgin Islander; and
WHEREAS, Cyril
Emmanuel King was born on St Croix on April 7,
1921, received his early education at St. Ann's
Catholic School at Barren spot and graduated
from St. Mary's Catholic School in
Christiansted, St. Croix; and
WHEREAS, Cyril E.
King served with United States Army Pacific
Theatre troops in Hawaii, attaining the rank of
Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, upon
being discharged from the military, Cyril King
entered American University, where he obtained
his Bachelor of Science Degree; and
WHEREAS, upon
graduation, Cyril E. King was employed as an
aide to Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota,
the first blackman to serve on the staff of a
United States Senator, serving for twelve years
and subsequently attained the position of Senior
Staff Member; and
WHEREAS, Cyril E.
King was appointed by President John F. Kennedy
to serve as Government Secretary of the Virgin
Islands Government in 1961; and
WHEREAS, in 1969,
Cyril E. King was appointed as Acting Governor
of the Virgin Islands and in 1972 elected
Senator from the St. Thomas-St. John District;
and
WHEREAS, in 1974,
Cyril E. King became the second elected Governor
of the Virgin Islands; and
WHEREAS, King
received numerous awards for his outstanding community
service including Commander First Class of the
Order of Danneborg and the Silver Cross by H.M.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Roger Williams
College in Bristol, Rhode Island and the first
Hilbert College, Buffalo, New York award for his
outstanding humanitarian work; and
WHEREAS, the
airport on St. Thomas was renamed "The
Cyril E. King Airport" in honor of this outstanding
native son; and
WHEREAS, through
the dedicated efforts of Governor Cyril E. King,
the social, political and economic standards in
the Territory were enhanced;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John P.
de Jonqh, Jr., Governor of the
United States Virgin Is1ands, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended, do hereby
proclaim Thursday, April 7, 2011, as
"Governor Cyril Emmanuel King Day" in the Virgin
Islands in honor of the outstanding public
service of our second elected Governor. I call
upon the residents of the Virgin Islands to join
with me in this observance.
In addition,
pursuant to Title 1, Section 187, I am directing
the Commissioner of Education to conduct
appropriate ceremonies in the Territory's School
in honor of Governor Cyril E. King, including
dissemination of biographical information of
this outstanding native son.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause
the Seal of the Government of the Virgin Islands
of the United States to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin
Islands, this 1st day of March, 2011, A.D.
John P.
de Jongh, Jr.
Governor
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