NEW YORK, N.Y. – Full restoration of the national medallions depicting the emblems of 43 nations and territories across the Western Hemisphere, including The Bahamas, has been completed and are now on display atop lampposts along Avenue of the Americas, Sixth Avenue between Canal and 59th Streets.
The Hon. Leroy F. Major, Bahamas Consul General to New York, was among the diplomats who attended the event marking the occasion on Thursday, November 16, 2023, that was held by the Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation; Edward Mermelstein, NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs Commissioner; and Manuel Castro, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner.
Installed in 1959, the medallions symbolized hope and unity in the hemisphere to honor 43 nations and territories in the Western Hemisphere on Sixth Avenue between Canal and 59th Streets. The medallions fell into disrepair, with only 18 original medallions remaining in early 2023. NYC DOT completed the installations last month.
“With the installation of these medallions along the Sixth Avenue corridor, we honor and celebrate the immigrant story that is New York City,” DOT Commissioner Rodriguez said. “The combined contributions of immigrants from these lands to New York have made New York such a diverse and attractive city for its culture, for its food, for its neighborhood, and for its inclusivity.”
At the end of World War II in 1945, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia renamed Sixth Avenue the Avenue of the Americas in honor of Pan-American unity. During Mayor Robert Wagner’s administration roughly a decade later, the nearly 300 original medallions were installed, celebrating a unified hemisphere after the end of the war.
However, the medallions were neglected, and after a few decades, they began falling apart. The original medallions were made of materials like porcelain enamel that were not easily accessible, and so without maintenance, they began to corrode and rust. Gradually, the medallions were removed for safety concerns due to their deterioration.
Under the Administration of Mayor Eric Adams, creating new, safe and up-to-date signage along Sixth Avenue was a priority as DOT Commissioner Rodriguez advanced the permanent restoration and replacement of the medallions.
Consul General Major thanked the Mayor’s office and NYC DOT for recognizing the contributions that the CARICOM community makes to New York City and to the U.S on behalf of The Bahamas and the CARICOM Consular Corps in New York City.
