Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
On April 26, 1607, 104 men completed a voyage from England to the Americas. Commissioned by King James I and the Virginia Company of London, their mission included extending Christendom and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the New World.
Three days after landing, on April 29, 1607, these settlers raised a wooden cross at Cape Henry, Virginia. Led by Reverend Robert Hunt, they bowed in prayer, marking an act of reverence and devotion before moving west to establish Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
Despite facing severe hardships, including drought, starvation, and disease, Jamestown endured and shaped the character of what would become the United States. Today, a granite cross stands at the First Landing site to honor the resilience and Christian witness of these early settlers.
The United States commemorates these historic events as part of its spiritual heritage and calls to restore traditions that honor this foundation, promote the common good, and give praise to God.