Veterans arrive to welcoming arms

About 22 veterans, along with several family members, arrived on Saipan Thursday night to a warm welcome prepared by organizers of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of World War II Battles of Saipan and Tinian.

All eyes were on the veterans as they were welcomed to the island celebrity-style, with several beauty queens, live entertainment, and a number of volunteers waving flags outside the baggage claim area.

From the moment the group exited the aircraft, they were greeted with smiles, applause, and flashes from cameras, as well as music from the ’40s.

The veterans, whose bravery and sacrifices 60 years ago will be recognized, praised, and honored in the coming days, were greeted by members of the organizing committee, including co-chair Jerry Facey. Upon reaching the gate, they were again greeted by another group that included Rep. Ray A. Tebuteb and Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela.

The greetings were far from over as another welcoming crew, led by beauty queens from the Northern Marianas Beauty Pageant Association and the Liberation Day Royal Court waited by the entrance to the immigration area and gave out mwars to each of the guests.

As they made their way to the baggage claim area, the veterans were entertained by a local cultural group dancing to traditional music. As they were then exiting the building, they were again caught by surprise as a roaring crowd awaited them outside the doors. The area was congested as volunteers of all ages applauded the veterans.

“I am really overwhelmed and it brings back a lot of memories,” said 82-year-old Russ Hofvendahl, who was a member of the 2nd Marine Division. “We had the assault landing on June 15, then we took Tinian, and I stayed there for a while. Then we went to Okinawa, came back, and then up to Japan. I lived on Saipan for over a year after the battle, and I’ve been looking forward to returning for a long time. This is my first time back.”

Another veteran, Hal Olsen, also returns for the first time in 60 years, along with wife Estelle.

“I’m glad you kept the island alive, and its great to be here. It took me 32 days on Liberty ship to get here, and I said ‘If I could ever get there one day, I’ll go back,’ so that’s what I did,” said Olsen, who was enlisted in the Navy and deployed to Tinian as an aviation mechanic.

As the veterans boarded buses that took them to their respective hotels, Hospitality Committee chair Kathryn Barry expressed her appreciation to everyone who took part in the welcoming.

“I am absolutely blown away…I could cry,” she said. “It’s absolutely phenomenal. Thank you Saipan and we need you back on Saturday and Sunday.”

Barry described the welcoming a success. “You could see their faces…they are really excited to be here. I guarantee that what they will be talking about is how absolutely blown away they are by the reception on Saipan,” she said.

Another large group of veterans are scheduled to arrive tonight at 8pm, and another that includes retired Enola Gay pilot Gen. Paul Tibbets, navigator Theodore Van Kirk, and weaponeer Morris Jeppson tomorrow at the same time.

Commemoration events kick off today and conclude on June 18.

Today’s events include the finale of the 2004 Taste of the Marianas, which begins at 6pm at the American Memorial Park Bell Tower Field and a USO-style Camp Show at 7pm at the park’s amphitheater.

Other activities for the commemoration include seminars, historic sites tours, time capsule dedication, Laser Light shows, a parade, and the formal commemoration ceremony that features Tibbets as the keynote speaker. Activities on Tinian also include the unveiling of World War II bomb pits that have been excavated.