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Memorial service, Mass today for Marine killed in Afghanistan
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Posted on Apr 19 2012
A memorial service and Mass will be held on Saipan today in honor of the late U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Ramon Taisakan Kaipat, 22, who will be buried in Tacoma, Washington State, his relatives said.
Kaipat was killed on combat patrol in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan on April 11, bringing to 16 the number of CNMI sons and daughters who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the wars against terror since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Neischangpi Satur, first cousin of the late Marine, said yesterday that the family and relatives of Kaipat are inviting the public to the memorial service at 4pm today at Mount Carmel Cathedral in Chalan Kanoa.
The memorial service will be followed by a Mass at 5pm.
“He’s born and raised here, and he has lots of connections with the people here. We are inviting those who know him and others to join us at the memorial service and Mass,” Satur told Saipan Tribune.
She said there will be a memorial service in Tacoma around 11pm Friday, Saipan time.
Satur said when she first heard the news of her first cousin’s death she thought it was a dream, only to be reminded by her family that “he’s really gone.”
“He’s always been humble and easygoing. We will miss him I only read about stories of what’s going on out there and I never thought it would happen to us. It’s hard to grasp, and I still can’t believe he’s really gone,” she said.
House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) also reminded House members to join the memorial service. Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) said senators will also be attending.
The late Marine and his family left Saipan in 2004 to live in Tacoma, Washington.
Kaipat attended Oleai Elementary School, Hopwood Junior High School, and Marianas High School on Saipan. He finished high school at Mount Tahoma High School in Washington State in 2007. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008.
