Liberation Day festivities kick off

Dozens of community members filled the Garapan Fishing Base in Garapan last Saturday for the first night and official opening of the 78th Liberation Day festivities.

The opening of the festivities had followed the commemoration of 80 years of peace in the Pacific that morning, a reflective look back at the Battle of Saipan and Tinian, and tied the event with the upcoming 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Norther Marianas’ Indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people from the post war camp, Camp Susupe.

The opening ceremony that took place was not only attended by residents, tourists, and local dignitaries, but also visiting World War II veteran families, and foreign media outlets here for the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and Tinian. Both the Liberation Day and 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and Tinian committees made sure to recognize and honor these guests with a special table and dinner during the event. The guests were also able to stroll, enjoy, and partake of the many food, drinks, and merchandise vendors were peddling.

This year’s artwork, made to match the 2024 CNMI Liberation Day theme “Honoring memories from the past with moments of today” was also unveiled at the ceremony. The piece depicted the NMI of long ago and NMI in the present, with a singular latte stone connecting the two. Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho shared that the artwork was done by one of his staff, Ken Camacho.

In his special remarks, Camacho not only shared his gratitude to the Liberation Day committee and the 80th Battle of Saipan and Tinian Anniversary committee for the successful start of the month’s festivities, but added that with teamwork, a lot can be done in the community.

“This island, now, is no longer just Chamorro and Carolinian. This island is a real diverse community. Many young generations were born here and don’t know much about it,” said Camacho, “Our generation was born in here and don’t have that much knowledge about the Battle of Saipan and the time when our parents, grandparents, and our great-grandparents were liberated from Camp Susupe.”

He shared that remembering was important, but also teaching and sharing with others the CNMI’s history was also equally important.

Camacho said there was still much work to be done but he feels confident that together, the CNMI can do it.

“As a mayor for this municipality… we are stronger if we all work together… there’s a lot of pressing issues that are affecting all of us here in the CNMI, but we’re the type of people that can stand and rise because we all work together. This is what we need to continue in this community, working together. I’ll bet you that there’s nothing impossible if we all work together, regardless where you came from and how you treat this place, and if you treat this place as home, let’s all work together as one people,” he sai.

Nakisha Celis, 2024 Liberation Day Queen candidate, told Saipan Tribune that so far, just being involved, she has personally learned so much about history, especially during the Battle of Saipan and Tinian ceremony that morning.

“It was really inspiring. From all the speeches I heard, there was some stuff that I didn’t know about, and I’m glad that I learned about it because it’s my culture and history too and the others as well.”

Trisha Ramangmou, a resident of Susupe, also shared with Saipan Tribune her thoughts on the event. “This event is very much honoring our history. It really resembles the past and how it progressed from then until now, showing how we can all came together to really appreciate and honor everyone and everything that has made us what we are today. I really do think because in order to keep the island alive, the people alive, you should also keep your culture and history alive. too. To represent and to tell others our story, even the ones that may not be part of your culture.” she said.

In a conversation with Delbert Pua, chairman of this year’s Liberation Day committee under the Office of the Mayor of Saipan, he shared it was rewarding to see the event come together, and thanked the committee for their hard work, as well as the government agencies, private sector, and community members that made the event possible.

Pua shared that he hopes through the event, many will walk away with a better understanding of the Battle of Saipan and Tinian and the liberation from Camp Susupe.

“Personally, honestly, this is the right time because not a lot of the adults younger than us, they’re not knowledgeable about what happened back in 1944 and 1946. Unfortunately, our great-grandparents at that time, they never shared their war stories with us because it was very emotional and some of them took it personally where they don’t just share it with the young generation.”

He added that retaining history was key to moving forward. “For me, as a young person, which I’m spearheading the Office of Youth Affairs, this is the time where I want to have this public awareness for our young generation to keep commemorating this 80th Battle of Saipan and Tinian and 78th Liberation Day because they’re important. This is a kick-starter for our economy, especially with our challenges today financially. This is an attraction to our tourism. I hope one day our leaders wake up and properly erect a monument for this anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and the liberation of Camp Susupe.”

Pua told Saipan Tribune that the Liberation Day grounds will be open every Friday to Sunday until July 6. On Fridays and Saturdays the carnival grounds will be opened from 6pm to 11pm, and on Sundays it will be from 6pm to 10pm. The only exception would be on July 2, as the grounds will be open for the 2024 Liberation Day Queen coronation. Other than that, Pua said the community can look forward to great food and performances at the carnival grounds and also the 4th of July Parade being in the same spot as before since road construction is set to be completed by then.

“I was given the favorable response from the Department of Public Works that the target date for this road project is sometime June 22.” he said. “Yes, and hopefully this will not fluctuate our July 4th event…we will have the parade in the same route as last year.”