PETER G. THURLAND, SR., BANDSTAND

On 2026-09-14, Representative Val T. Hoyle (D-OR-4) delivered a floor speech titled "PETER G. THURLAND, SR., BANDSTAND" in the House.

PETER G. THURLAND, SR., BANDSTAND

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5566-H5567] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1610 PETER G. THURLAND, SR., BANDSTAND Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8121) to designate the Christiansted Bandstand at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, as the ``Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand'', as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8121 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. The bandstand commonly referred to as the ``Christiansted Bandstand'', located at the Christiansted National Historic Site, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, is designated as the ``Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand''. SEC. 2. LEGAL REFERENCES. Any reference in any law, regulation, document, record, map, or other paper of the United States to the bandstand referred to in section 2 is deemed to be a reference to the ``Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas. General Leave Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8121, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas? There was no objection. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8121, which would officially name a historic bandstand located within the Christiansted National Historic Site on the Island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands as the Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand. For generations, the Christiansted bandstand has served as a gathering place for music and community in the heart of St. Croix. H.R. 8121 honors a man whose life and legacy are closely tied to that history. Peter Gregory Thurland, Sr., was born in Christiansted in 1892. While serving in the United States Navy, Mr. Thurland helped design and construct the Christiansted Bandstand and performed there as a member of the Christiansted Naval Band until his honorable discharge in 1921. His service to his community did not end there. Mr. Thurland founded the St. Croix Community Band and spent decades training generations of young musicians and bringing music to the community through free monthly concerts. A master craftsman, talented musician, and dedicated mentor, Mr. Thurland made a lasting contribution to the cultural and civic life of St. Croix. It is particularly fitting that the bandstand he helped build, which became a center of community life in St. Croix, bears his name. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 8121, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8121, introduced by my colleague Delegate Plaskett, will honor the legacy of Peter G. Thurland by naming Christiansted Bandstand after him. This bandstand is a historic landmark at the Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. It symbolizes the rich, cultural heritage of St. Croix and has served as a community gathering place since its construction. Peter G. Thurland was a central figure in the St. Croix community. Mr. Thurland was known as a master craftsman, musician, and proud veteran who served in the Navy Band. Not only did he perform there during his military service until his honorable discharge but he personally helped design and construct the bandstand. He continued to advocate for the arts and founded the St. Croix Community Band where he personally trained generations of young musicians. Efforts to recognize Mr. Thurland go back to the 103rd Congress with the legislation first introduced by Delegate Ron de Lugo. It is time to honor Mr. Thurland's legacy and ensure that his impact on the cultural and civic life of St. Croix is remembered. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 8121, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), the sponsor of this bill. Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8121, legislation I introduced to designate the Christiansted Bandstand in Christiansted, St. Croix, in the Virgin Islands of the United States as the Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Huffman, along with the members and staff of the House Committee on Natural Resources, for their consideration of this bill and for advancing it to the floor. I appreciate their thoughtful attention to a matter that means a great deal to the people of St. Croix, and I look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation to the President's desk. The Christiansted Bandstand is one of the most significant cultural landmarks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Located in the heart of Christiansted, it has served for over a century as a gathering place for residents and visitors and as the center of St. Croix's musical and civic life. H.R. 8121 would designate that landmark in honor of the man most responsible for its character and continuity, Peter G. Thurland, Sr. Mr. Thurland was born on February 19, 1892, in Christiansted, St. Croix, then the Danish West Indies. On March 31, 1917, he performed with the Christiansted Industrial Brass Band at the formal transfer ceremony on the Christiansted Wharf, present at the very moment the Virgin Islands became part of the United States. Following the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States, he enlisted in the United States Navy on June 12 of that same year and served as a member of the Navy Band. During his service, he was instrumental in the physical construction and design of the Christiansted Bandstand. He performed there with the Christiansted Navy Band until his honorable discharge in September 1921. [[Page H5567]] In 1938, Mr. Thurland founded the St. Croix Community Band, which performed free monthly concerts for three consecutive decades. He trained generations of young musicians and led the band until 1968. He was also a master craftsman and cabinetmaker. His work can still be seen throughout our island. Mr. Speaker, my own parents talked about the many activities the bandstand represented for children growing up in the town in the 1930s and 40s. One of our most iconic period painters, Leo Carty, used the bandstand in some of his most memorable paintings. My own children have played around the bandstand without a marker to explain who built the gathering spot. A naming with a marker sharing the creator and the history of the bandstand can only bring our island closer together. This legislation was first introduced, as you have heard, from Congressman Ron de Lugo in the 103rd Congress. I am proud to bring it again in the 119th Congress. The Thurland family has long advocated for this recognition, and their persistence reflects the esteem in which their grandfather, their patriarch, is held across St. Croix. Peter G. Thurland, Sr., helped construct the Christiansted Bandstand, served his country with distinction, and dedicated decades to the cultural life of St. Croix. His name belongs on that landmark. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8121. Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 8121, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8121, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR8121, HR8121