[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E94-E95]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

                                 ______


                         HON. VICTOR O. FRAZER

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 1996

  Mr. FRAZER. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to pay tribute to the 
members of the eighth legislature of the Virgin Islands, with special 
recognition of Dr. Melvin Herbert Evans posthumously, the Governor of 
the Virgin Islands who signed this historic legislation into law.

[[Page E95]]

  The legislature of the Virgin Islands, in 1970 designated January 15, 
the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a legal holiday, in the 
Virgin Islands. The legislation was proposed by the Committee of the 
Whole, which included senators John L. Maduro; Randall N. James, David 
Puritz; Earle B. Ottley; Augustin Doward; Louis P. Hestres; Horace A. 
Callwood; Alexander A. Farrelly; Santiago Garcia; David M. Hamilton; 
Arnold M. Golden; Frits E. Lawaets; Theovald E. Moorehead; Aureo Diaz 
Morales; and Percival H. Reese. It was received at the legislative desk 
February 2, 1970, reported, read in full and adopted February 2, 1970 
transmitted to the Governor February 5, 1970 and approved February 16, 
1970, to become effective in 1971.
  This legislation became bill No. 4293 which states: It is most 
fitting and proper that the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. be set aside each year as a day to honor the memory of 
a leader who symbolized the freedom and faith of America. The life, 
works, and philosophy of Dr. King brings to Americans and Virgin 
Islanders the hope and dream that what he stood for will one day become 
a reality. All Virgin Islanders and particularly our youth, may take 
comfort and gain encouragement from the life of this great apostle of 
nonviolence who sought through constructive measures justice and 
liberty for all mankind. We Virgin Islanders have long prided ourselves 
in having attained the liberty, justice, and brotherhood for which 
Martin Luther King gave his life. Therefore, let us annually, on 
January 15, commemorate Dr. King and examine our hearts to determine 
that we are honoring the dream and fulfilling the vision of 
brotherhood, justice, and individual liberty that gave true purpose to 
the life and works of Martin Luther King.
  The passage of this legislation made the Virgin Islands the only 
place under the U.S. flag to legally celebrate the birthday of Dr. 
King, which also gives it historical significance. Mr. Speaker, on the 
25th anniversary of the passage of this historic legislation by the 
eighth legislature of the Virgin Islands, I pay tribute to those 
individuals for their leadership and foresight. Because 13 years later 
in 1983, as outlined in Public Law 98-144, Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr.'s birthday became a national holiday.

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