National Heroes and Benefactors Day – March 9, 2025

History of National Heroes and Benefactors Day

National Heroes and Benefactors Day, formerly Baron Bliss Day, is a significant holiday in Belize. The purpose of the holiday was to honor the late Baron Bliss. The baron became a martyr when he died and willed nearly two million Belize dollars to a trust fund. His contribution eased the lives of many citizens of Belize.

Baron Bliss was born in 1869 as Henry Edward Ernest Victor Barrettes. In his early adulthood, he took the familial title of Fourth Baron Barreto. He worked hard to become a successful engineer and earned substantial wealth by manufacturing gun parts for the British. He also served for several years as an excellent Justice of the Peace, often advocating for people’s rights and preventing several conflicts. Unfortunately, when Baron Bliss turned 42, he contracted polio and became paralyzed from the waist down, which stopped him from working as an engineer. But his spirit was as strong as ever.

Once Baron Bliss realized that now he had all the time in the world to indulge in his passions, he decided to sail to the Caribbean and spent his time indulging his passions for fishing and sailing. He enjoyed spending time on the water and getting in touch with nature. It was a peaceful and calming experience for him. Baron Bliss traveled to the Bahamas and Trinidad and spent his time traveling the beautiful reefs and meeting the people. He later went to British Honduras, known as Belize today, and loved it so much that he spent the rest of his life there. But he never settled on the mainland. Instead, he lived on his yacht and left his wealth to the people of Honduras when he died.