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Now it's become the annual launch pad for the September Celebrations season. At last year's launch, it was declared a national historical landmark and this year the cemetery was declared an archaeological reserve. Here are highlights from yesterday's launch:....

212 years after this tiny island was ground zero for the "Battle Of St. George's Caye", Ministers, municipal leaders, dignitaries and invited guests gathered on the island for official ceremonies to open the September Celebrations. Tourism and Culture Minister Manuel Herredia also signed a statutory instrument making the cemetery an archaeological reserve Dr. Jaime Awe of the institute of Archeology outlined the findings of a recently concluded archeological dig on the island - which was once Belize Capital:

Dr. Jaime Awe, Institute of Archaeology
"Archaeology then is beginning to tell us much about the trials and tribulations of the people and community who gave birth to our young nation and this takes me to a very important mileage that I wanted to leave with you today, I feel that many Belizeans have yet to really understand the true significance of St. George's Caye. It is often said that Belize had never had to fight for freedom, but we certainly did right here in this very spot where our ancestors stood to what was then the most powerful nation at the time."

And from a populous, cornerstone capital to a settlement, St. George's Caye is making a slight return to prominence by being upgraded to village status

Hon. Gabriel Martinez, Minister of Local Government
"The champagne corks can be unleashed and the drums roll as St. George's Caye meets its formal entry into village status."

In history's long arc, that is cause for celebration or at least song....and the event was fittingly capped off by a musical performance of "I Am Belize" with Tanya Carter, Berne and Shawn Saldano.

At yesterday's event, Amada Balam was also given a prize for having come up with the September Celebrations theme.