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Proclamations

UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 29, 2011

Gubernatorial Proclamation - Older Americans Month 
Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. has proclaimed May, 2011 as “Older Americans Month” in the U.S. Virgin Islands to recognize the valuable contributions senior citizens make to our society. 

This year’s theme is “Connecting Our Community.” The designated month is an opportunity to recognize and thank seniors for their daily efforts in nurturing family, providing wisdom and experience, and for their support to younger generations. Their involvement and personal perspectives are an important part of our daily lives, and we appreciate their role in our society. 

President John F. Kennedy introduced Senior Citizens Month in 1963 in recognition and appreciation of the role of older citizens in our society and to honor their contributions in communities nationwide. Their diversity of knowledge, including familial networks of support, professional achievements and noteworthy contributions lie at the center of our national celebration. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter changed the name of the month-long commemoration to Older Americans Month, and thirty-one years later, our recognition of this special time continues to be deeply meaningful. This special month provides us with the important opportunity to focus on both the contributions and needs of our senior citizens, and to consider how we as a territory must prepare to meet the needs of the future. 

Seniors pass on our cultural history, heritage and leadership skills that are needed to face the challenges of the present. To show our deepest appreciation and strong support for them, we must focus on the needs of elders as they continue to enrich and strengthen our communities. Older Americans Month is an appropriate time to call attention to the importance of creating comprehensive and coordinated systems of services which offer a wide range of options and which are truly responsive to the needs of older Virgin Islanders. 

In recognition of this month, Governor and First Lady de Jongh are overseeing the creation of a video highlighting senior citizens territory-wide. The video will be viewable on channels 6 and 10 throughout the month of May on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 PM. The short video features the diversity of talents and accomplishments of Virgin Islands seniors and provides a special tribute to Mother’s Day. 

Also, on May 11 at 7:00 PM, Addie Ottley will interview representatives of the Senior Citizen Division of Human Services on WTJX’s Face to Face television broadcast. And, the Department of Human Services will host open receptions on May 13th on St. Thomas and May 20th on St. Croix for Dorca's Care, a new non-profit organization that matches caregivers to those seeking assistance.

Governor de Jongh asks all Virgin Islanders to focus attention on the positive impact families and communities can have on the lives of elders, and calls on the appropriate government agencies, as well as civic, community, and non-profit organizations to continue to channel efforts toward improving the quality of life for our senior citizens.

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A PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR
OF THE
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS

TO PROCLAIM OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
WHEREAS, May 2011 has been designated as "Older Americans Month" with the theme "Older Americans: Connecting the Community;" and

WHEREAS, Older Americans Month is a special occasion, a time to show our deepest appreciation and strong support for our seniors, to focus on the elders of our community, as they continue to enrich and strengthen our communities; and

WHEREAS, Older Americans in every State and Territory of the United States will join in observance of Older Americans Month; and

WHEREAS, this is an opportunity for us to thank our older Americans for their continued involvement, commitment, dedication, understanding, shrewdness, prudence, insights, and enormous contribution to our society, including the passing on of our cultural history and heritage to our younger generation; 

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 the month of May 2011 "Older Americans Month" in the United States Virgin Islands and call attention to the importance of creating comprehensive and coordinated systems of services which offer a wide range of options and which are truly responsive to the needs of older Virgin Islanders. 

I further call attention to the positive impact that families and communities can have on the lives of older persons and call on the appropriate government agencies, civic and other community organizations, non-profit organizations and the people of the Virgin Islands to work toward the creation of such systems, thereby assisting in improving the quality of 1ife for our senior citizens.

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 17th day of April, A.D., 2011.

John P. de Jongh, Jr.
Governor
    
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