Thirty naval officers and about 300 sailors were on Saipan this weekend for some rest and recreation after long days of being out at sea. USS Bunker Hill arrived on Saipan Friday morning for a port visit after 21 days of departing its San Diego homeport on Jan.\u00a017, 2020. \u00a0<\/p>\n
At the invitation of Capt. Kurt Sellerberg, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, first lady Diann T. Torres, and their family were onboard USS Bunker Hill on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Torres expressed his appreciation to Sellerberg for the tour and for choosing the Commonwealth as a destination for the sailors’ rest and recreation.<\/p>\n
“I want to welcome Capt. Sellerberg and the crew of the USS Bunker Hill to Saipan,\u201d said Torres. \u201cI am especially appreciative that you have chosen to come here, and I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy and appreciate what our island has to offer and its rich history with our U.S. military. On behalf of the people of the Commonwealth, I would like to extend our gratitude to you, the officers and sailors for safeguarding our security in the region. We wish you all continued safe journey.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Torres continues to seek out other economic opportunities for the Commonwealth as part of efforts to expand the CNMI\u2019s economic base and that includes discussions with the leadership of the Department of Defense to advocate for the Commonwealth as a destination for military ships in the region.<\/p>\n
“I would also like to extend my appreciation to Rear Adm. John Menoni and Maj. Gen. Suzie Vares-Lum for their responsiveness to our request and in advocating on our behalf to encourage all fleets in the region to visit our islands. USS Bunker Hill is the beginning of many visits we hope to receive this year,” said Torres.<\/p>\n
A Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, USS Bunker Hill is part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group deployed to the Indo-Pacific region. (PR)<\/p>\n