Virgin Islands March

The "Virgin Islands March" is a patriotic song which is considered to be the national anthem of the United States Virgin Islands.

The song was composed by Sam Williams and U.S. Virgin Island native Alton Adams in the 1920s. It served as the unofficial anthem of the U.S. Virgin Islands until 1963 when it was officially recognized by Legislative Act. The song itself consists of a very cheerful melody.

The Guardian reporter Alex Marshall compared this anthem favourably to other national anthems, suggesting that it was reminiscent of the music of the Disney film Mary Poppins.^[1]

Words for the "Virgin Islands March"

All hail our Virgin Islands.

Em'ralds of the sea,

Where beaches bright with coral sand

And trade winds bless our native land.

All hail our Virgin Islands,

Bathed in waters blue,

We give our loyalty,

Full to thee,

And pledge allegiance forever true.

To thee our Virgin Islands,

Loving voices raise

A song in praise of brotherhood,

Where right makes might to fight for good.

To thee our Virgin Islands,

Haven of the free,

We sing our love to thee,

Joyously,

Our own fair islands of liberty.

March on oh Virgin Islands,

In the joyful throng,

Uphold the right and right the wrong

Where only peace and love belong.

March on oh Virgin Islands,

Democratic land.

Together hand in hand,

Take your stand,

Forever soldiers in freedom's band.

God bless our Virgin Islands,

Humbly now we pray,

Where all mankind can join today

In friendly warmth of work and play.

God bless our Virgin Islands,

Beautiful and tall.

Beneath a sunny sky,

Hilltops high

Hold out a welcome for one and all.

Notes

References

• "The Virgin Islands March". Virgin Islands Air National Guard. Archived from the original on 10 March 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050310124606/http://www.viang.ang.af.mil/vimarch.htm. Retrieved 23 June 2011.