Ceremonial Key to the City of San Juan

by Rob Jeffery

This ceremonial key to the city of San Juan was given to Commissioner Holland French, territorial commander of the USA Eastern Territory, to mark the day that The Salvation Army established its presence in Puerto Rico. The key was presented by San Juan’s mayor, Doña Felisa Rincón de Gautier, who had been advocating for The Salvation Army to come to the island for many years. In 1955, she had famously thrust the Puerto Rican flag into the hands of Salvation Army officer Tobías Martinez, asking, “Why is The Salvation Army taking so long to come to my land?”

The Salvation Army officially commenced work in Puerto Rico in 1962.