60th anniversary committee tags 17 tour sites, 7 historical markers

The Committee for the 60th Anniversary of the World War II Battles of Saipan and Tinian has identified 17 coach tour sites and five historical markers that need sprucing up in preparation for the month-long celebration of the Battle of Saipan and Tinian.

Beautification Committee chair Cynthia Martin said businesses and resident owners are invited to help government efforts in keeping the islands clean for the commemoration event.

The Saipan cleanup is an ongoing project of the government but efforts are now being directed toward cleaning up sites related to the World War II commemoration.

“Saipan needs all the residents’ continuing efforts to keep the island clean and beautiful. While the 60th anniversary celebration events begin officially on June 12, the first cruise ship and visitors will arrive on June 5,” said Martin.

She added that special tours are planned for visitors, including returning veterans and their families. “Businesses and homes on any of these routes are especially important to maintain,” she said.

She urged businesses and residences to remove debris from around their property, trim dead limbs from trees, replace broken signs and fences, remove outdated signs from windows, power wash mold on buildings, signs and fences, mow vacant lots and remove cuttings, remove equipment or damaged cars from sight, clean steps and walkways, re-stripe parking areas, paint or replace damaged garbage containers, and repaint buildings.

The list of tour sites that businesses and resident owners should take particular concern are areas near the old Japanese hospital, the Sugar King Park, Old Japanese jail, bunker/Japanese tanks, Japanese bunker, Sugar Dock, Japanese air raid shelter, fuel storage bunkers, As Lito Airfield complex, 27th Infantry, 73rd bomb wing memorial, Hill 500, Susupe Lake area, Kannat Tabla Japanese cannon, U.S. bomb storage bunker, Banzai Cliff, Japanese Last Command Post, Japanese Peace Memorial, Okinawan Peace Memorial, Korean Peace Memorial, and the Suicide Cliff.

Historical markers can be found at the Banzai Cliff, Mount Tapochao, As Lito Airfield complex, Quarter Master Beach Park, Chalan Kanoa Cathedral, and Afetna Beach Park.

Also, the Historical Preservation Office disclosed Friday that it would start the American Memorial Park’s Wayside Exhibit Panels.

According to Genevieve Cabrera, the project was an offshoot of the park’s Visitors Center Exhibit Design Project.

“It incorporates panel narrative [with photographs] at twelve key World War II sites on Saipan. The subcommittee that worked on this project had requested that additional panels be placed on Tinian, but because of budget and time constraints, only the twelve panels for Saipan were selected for completion prior to the 60th Anniversary of the Battles for Saipan and Tinian. The Tinian panels would be installed at a later time,” said Cabrera.

The committee would be meeting at Mt. Tapotchao on Tuesday at 10am. Presently, there are five panels altogether at the peak —four at the southernmost periphery and one near the statue of Christ.