Sea, Tea and Me Honors V.I. Purple Heart Recipients

An afternoon tea and some seaside scenery provided the backdrop for members of American Legion Post 90 to pay tribute to Virgin Islands veterans injured in conflict. Wednesday, Aug. 7, marked the second observance of Purple Heart Day in the Virgin Islands.

Legionnaires and their supporters say they want to recognize service members with an event called “Sea, Tea and Me” and to reach out to others similarly honored that they have yet to meet. “We had three of our Purple Heart recipients with us — Orlando Brown, Roy Stephens, and Hubert Raimer,” Post Commander Hillis Benjamin said. Veterans Affairs Director Patrick Farrell and Sens. Dwayne DeGraff and Marvin Blyden joined the event, which was held at the Port Authority Water Park in Lindbergh Bay.

They were joined by Muria Nesbitt, readjustment counselor of the Veterans Affairs Clinic. The names of other recipients who have died were also mentioned as officials addressed the group. “Memorialized were Nanton Moses, Ewart Harley, Myron Buddy Henneman, and Howard Zimmerman,” said Legion spokesperson Beverlie Baron.