MAROON COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM
Submitted by News Desk on September 18, 2012
St. Croix AHEAD invites the public to join us September 28-30 for the inaugural Maroon Commemorative Event; an event of cultural and spiritual significance for the people of St. Croix and for anyone who would honor that universal, indomitable human spirit that seeks freedom at any cost. We will celebrate the untold triumphs of the maritime "underground railroad", and share ways to preserve promote and profit from the rich cultural, historic, and environmental resources that St Croix offers.
The Maroon Commemorative Program begins with a ceremony from 4 - 6 pm Friday September 28 on the Scenic Drive 1.4 miles West of the Beast., and continues with a Culture and Historic Preservation Symposium from 8:30-5:30 Saturday Sept 29 at Carambola Hotel. Presenters include representatives from Jamaica's Maroon Community, the GullahGeechee community, St. Croix Interfaith Coalition, the Smithsonian Institute, and federal and local Officials and local experts. On Saturday afternoon there is an interactive session with information of financial and technical resources, the guidelines for restoration of historic properties, and local case studies. The events are open to the public at no cost however we ask that you pre-register by 9.20.12 so that we will have adequate accommodations for all.
Please join us for another milestone on SUCCEED’s pro-job, pro-development path to establish a Maroon Sanctuary Park “for all people, for all time”. Share this vision to create a magnet for smart growth to promote culture, history, environment, scholarship, and geotourism.
We are coordinating Tours and hikes - driven, moderate, and more difficult for Sunday if there is sufficient interest and there will be a mini St. Croix film festival and Meet and Greet at UVI on Friday evening.
The Maroon Ridge Sanctuary Commemorative Event is sponsored by STXAHEAD, a joint project of SUCCEED and SEA and funded by a grant by the US Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs. In addition, we are grateful for the support and cooperation of Delegate Christensen, Basil Utley of DOI-OIA, and Commissioners Louis Petersen and Alicia Barnes.
For further information or to register, please e-mail stxahead.succeed@gmail.com or call (340) 772-9685 or visit the website www.succeedstcroix.org