The children of former Saipan mayor Jose Santos Rios were presented with the CNMI flag that was raised during their father\u2019s memorial service last Feb. 23. <\/p>\n
On Friday, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang invited the children of Rios to the Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office along Beach Road so they could receive the flag. <\/p>\n
Apatang said it is only fitting for the CNMI flag to remind Rios\u2019 children of what their father contributed to the CNMI. <\/p>\n
According to Rios\u2019 daughter, Remay McNalley, she and her siblings were also presented with a United States flag, but being given a CNMI flag also means a lot to them as their father greatly loved the CNMI.<\/p>\n
McNalley said that Rios was one of the founding fathers of the CNMI\u2019s Flame Tree Festival, a strong advocate of indigenous rights, and was behind one of the first war museums in the CNMI dedicated to preserving World War II relics. <\/p>\n
McNalley also said that Rios had a generous heart. \u201cHe was extremely shy and humble\u2026 he helped without asking for anything in return and didn\u2019t need recognition for it,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
The Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office, in conjunction with the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, held Rios\u2019 memorial last Feb. 23 at the leadership kiosku in Chalan Kanoa. <\/p>\n
Rios was also given a military funeral at the veteran\u2019s cemetery in Washington state on Feb. 2, 2018.<\/p>\n
Rios served as Saipan mayor from Jan. 8, 1982, to Jan. 7, 1986. He was the island\u2019s third mayor since the Northern Mariana Islands became a U.S. commonwealth.<\/p>\n
Rios was born on Dec. 19, 1939, and passed away on Jan. 21, 2018.<\/p>\n
Municipal council administrator Frances Mu\u00f1a said that Rios passed away a little over a month after celebrating his 78th birthday.<\/p>\n
Rios enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to South Korea. Rios later joined the U.S. Peace Corps and was stationed in Chuuk.<\/p>\n
Rios is survived by his wife Emilia and children Roy Rios, Marie Martinez, Remay McNally, and Joseph Rios Jr.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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