National Heroes Day in Cayman Islands
National Heroes Day is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Monday in January in the Cayman Islands. This holiday is observed every year to honor those who have rendered exceptional service to the Cayman Islands and have earned their status as national heroes.
It’s a holiday that has been observed since 2003 when the first national hero was honored. Who is considered a national hero? The people selected for that honor are chosen by a special committee composed of public and private sector representatives. Different award categories are established for all the different heroes who are chosen for this day.
The History of National Heroes Day in the Cayman Islands
National Heroes Day was created when the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly passed the National Heroes Law in 1993. The following year, the Honorable James Manoah Bodden was named as the first national hero.
The next year, it was Mrs. Sybil Ione McLaughlin—who was the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. This holiday has been celebrated since then, with a special committee selecting the national heroes before National Heroes Day.
Fun Facts About the Cayman Islands
Let us gather around and enjoy some fun facts about the Cayman Islands. The ones we’ve found most interesting are listed below.
- In Grand Cayman, there are only about 65,720 residents.
- Christopher Columbus called the Cayman Islands “Las Tortugas.”
- The Cayman Islands is still listed as a British Overseas Territory.
- The capital city of the islands is George Town.
- The Green Sea Turtle is the national symbol of the Cayman Islands.
- There are four airports in the Cayman Islands.
Observing National Heroes Day in the Cayman Islands
This holiday is observed with a special awards ceremony that gives out the National Heroes Day awards. Some of the categories of the awards that are honored on this day include Early Pioneers, Emerging Pioneers, Excellence & Valor, and the Memorial Scroll categories.