Memorial Day celebration pays tribute to Local Marine Scouts

This year’s Memorial Day celebration was made extra special with the CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs officially unveiling the Local Marine Scouts monument located at the Veterans Cemetery in Marpi that will list all the names of the Chamorro and Carolinian men who risked their lives to help U.S Marines flush out Japanese stragglers and snipers from the island of Saipan and Tinian who remained in hiding after WWII.

Yesterday, the CNMI Office of Veteran’s Affairs hosted a beautiful, solemn ceremony at the Veterans Cemetery in Marpi in honor of the men and women who laid down their lives in service to their nation.

This year’s celebration was a momentous occasion as the OVA officially unveiled the Local Marine Scouts monument erected at the Veterans Cemetery.

According to OVA acting executive director Bernadita B. Dela Cruz, because this year marks the 80th anniversary of the “Peace of the Pacific” battle of Saipan and Tinian, the OVA is honoring the CNMI Marine Scouts who served from September 1945 to June 1946.

Named “Provisional Marines” by the Second Marine Division (also known as Local Marine Scouts) back in 1945, over 50 Chamorro and Carolinian men were selected by the U.S Marines to protect, guard, and clear the islands of Saipan and Tinian for any danger posed by Japanese stragglers or snipers who remained in hiding after the war.

These men were specifically selected to guide U.S Marines in the battle to rid Saipan and Tinian of Japanese snipers as they received training under the Japanese Armed Forces in rifle use and fire and explosive detection.

“This year, we are proud to have their names added to our CNMI memorial site, adjacent to our burial site along with other fallen heroes and along with other heroes who are not buried here,” said Dela Cruz

Paying tribute to all heroes, Dela Cruz gave a heartfelt speech in honor of those who fought valiantly and died for their country, and those who continue to fight for their country.

“Memorial Day is not a day of sorrow, rather a day of solemn reflection. This day offers us an opportunity to think about our country, our way of life, and those whose spirits, pride, and courage have preserved a lifestyle eagerly embraced by people around the world. We will never adequately thank those who have defended our freedom, but we can honour them in so many ways, big or small. Also, let us remember in our thoughts and prayer the servicemen who are serving and have served America in uniform. It is their courage and selflessness that is making the world a place of hope and peace for all of us,” she said.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios also paid tribute to CNMI heroes during yesterday’s Memorial Day ceremony stating that it is because of fallen heroes that the CNMI is what it is today.

“Today we gather once again to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom that we cherish. As we stand together on this solemn Memorial Day, we are reminded of the profound truth, that our freedom is the legacy of the brave men and women we honor today. These valiant heroes were more than soldiers, they were our family members, our friends, and our neighbors. They believed in a CNMI where dreams could be realized, and a brighter future awaited. For this vision, they gave their all and traded their tomorrow for today. Their sacrifice is woven into the very fabric of our land, echoing in the whisper of the wind through our palm trees, and in the gentle embrace of our waves on our shores. The legacy of their bravery continues to shape our Commonwealth, a testament of their courage and dedication. Their spirit ensures that the CNMI remains a beacon of freedom, tolerance, and progress. As the beneficiaries of these sacrifices, it is our duty to uphold the values they fought for,” he said.

Palacios, in his speech, also acknowledged the families of these fallen heroes.

“To the families who have lost loved ones, know that our Commonwealth shares in your sorrow and admires your strength. The legacy of your loved ones will forever inspire us, their stories etched in our hearts, and their heroism honored,” he said.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP), the keynote speaker during yesterday’s ceremony, said Memorial Day is a reminder to than and remember those who put their lives on the line for their nation.

“Nothing I could say could match the sacrifice and the patriotism that motivated those whose remains rest here. Nothing I could say could honor them more than their own actions in service of our nation. I want to simply remind us all that this Veterans Cemetery on this small plot of land north of Saipan does not stand alone. Today we honor those who put their lives on the line for our nation, we remember them, we thank them,” he said.