In Memoriam ceremony honors CNMI’s WWII dead

Today at 4pm, the 17th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, in cooperation with American Memorial Park on Saipan, is set for the return of its annual In Memoriam commemorative remembrance, blessing, and meditative ceremony for nearly a thousand Chamorros and Carolinian civilians who perished during the fierce Battle of Saipan nearly 80 years ago in June 1944.

The Marianas Memorial Monument was completed on June 13, 2004, a project organized by then-governor Juan N. Babauta when he was a representative in Washington, D.C. Babauta was also responsible for the commemorative recognition of 50 Marianas Marine Scouts who served in the U.S. Marines as scouts after the war.

Babauta, together with then-Saipan mayor Juan B. Tudela, was joined by then-bishop Thomas A. Camacho and Fr. Isaac Ayuyu for the Mass of remembrance, after which Babauta attended the ceremony at Marianas Memorial along with then-Youth Congress speaker Alvin “Champ” Fejeran, who recited the 933 names etched on the granite tombstone.

Veterans, government officials, families, relatives, friends and other members of the community joined the commemorative fellowship and remembrance at American Memorial Park early Sunday morning 20 years ago in 2004, to witness the unveiling of the first granite edifice honoring the civilian Chamorro and Carolinian lives lost in the Battle of Saipan during World War II in 1944.

Ten years after the unveiling in 2004, the 12th Saipan Municipal Council held its first In Memoriam ceremony in October 2014, then in succeeding years except in 2018 due to Super Typhoon Yutu, returned in 2019, and was postponed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. A similar event was hosted by the American Memorial Park in October 2022.

This year sees the return of the In Memoriam ceremony with the 17th municipal council leadership as host, in cooperation with American Memorial Park and the CNMI and municipal leadership.

In a public statement, council chair Marian DLG Tudela, vice chair Tonie M. Tudela and secretary Carmen C. Pangelinan are inviting families, relatives, friends, and members of the Commonwealth community to participate in today’s one-hour In Memoriam commemoration.

Today’s ceremony kicks off at 4pm at the American Memorial Park. (PR)