Congresswoman Plaskett Celebrates Designation of Charlotte Amalie as an American World War Ii Heritage City

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland October 21, 2026                                                    202-808-6129 PRESS RELEASE CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT CELEBRATES DESIGNATION OF CHARLOTTE AMALIE AS AN AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITY U.S. Virgin Islands — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) issued the following statement after the National Park Service designated Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, as an American World War II Heritage City on October 16, 2026. The designation recognizes the contributions of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands to the nation’s World War II effort and the community’s work to preserve that history. Congresswoman Plaskett supported the nomination in an April 2026 letter to the National Park Service. “I commend the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office, the St. Thomas Historical Trust, our veterans’ organizations, and every community member who has worked to document, protect, and teach this history. Their efforts ensure that the sacrifices of that generation of Virgin Islanders remain part of who we are,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “This designation recognizes the service of Virgin Islanders during World War II, and it is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “I was proud to submit a letter to the National Park Service in support of Charlotte Amalie’s nomination. St. Thomas was a critical line of defense for the Caribbean and the Atlantic, protecting the shipping routes that sustained the Allied war effort. Virgin Islanders enlisted in the armed forces and built and staffed the installations that protected our waters. At home, residents observed rationing and blackout orders and manned air-raid posts. They did all of this while serving a country in which they lacked full representation. That record of service has never been forgotten in the Virgin Islands, and today the nation formally recognizes it. “I thank the National Park Service for acknowledging Charlotte Amalie’s place in the American story. This honor belongs to our veterans, their families, every Virgin Islander who answered the call, and the community that has preserved this history,” Congresswoman Plaskett continued. The Virgin Islands’ strategic importance to United States national security predates the war. In 1917, the United States purchased the Danish West Indies from Denmark to deny Germany a foothold in the Caribbean. By the time the United States entered World War II, Charlotte Amalie’s harbor had become a key hub for refueling, repairs, and logistical support. The U.S. Navy established a submarine base at Little Krum Bay, while Bourne Field and the seaplane base at Lindbergh Bay supported air patrols that tracked German submarine activity. A naval hospital, a communications center at Fort Christian, Marine Corps barracks, and coastal defenses on Water Island and Hassel Island completed an integrated military installation that helped protect vital supply routes through the Caribbean and to the Panama Canal. Charlotte Amalie continues to honor its World War II heritage through historic preservation initiatives, memorials, educational programs, and commemorative events. The Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office documents and protects wartime military sites, including the former submarine base and historic harbor facilities. The Virgin Islands Veterans Memorial in Roosevelt Park and Veterans Drive along the waterfront honor those who served, and annual Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Transfer Day commemorations keep this history alive. The American World War II Heritage City program, administered by the National Park Service, was created in 2019 by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The law allows the Secretary of the Interior to bestow this honorary designation on only one city or local jurisdiction in each state and territory. ###