{"id":36872,"date":"2014-05-27T07:00:29","date_gmt":"2014-05-26T21:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=36872"},"modified":"2014-05-27T07:00:29","modified_gmt":"2014-05-26T21:00:29","slug":"fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Fisher: Fallen heroes guaranteed \u2018better hope, life\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-36872 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-9\/'>memorial-9<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36875'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the E. Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment &amp;302nd Quartermaster Company 9th MSC, U.S Army Reserve conduct the 21-gun salute. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-5\/'>memorial-5<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36883'>\n\t\t\t\tKeynote Speaker Maj. Neal V. Fisher II. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-4\/'>memorial-4<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36882'>\n\t\t\t\tGov. Eloy S. Inos delivers the welcoming remarks yesterday at the Veterans Cemetery. Behind him is press secretary Angel Demapan. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-3\/'>memorial-3<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36881'>\n\t\t\t\tCNMI Military and Veterans Affairs Office director Vicente Camacho delivers his remarks. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-1\/'>memorial-1<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36884'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the Pacific Winds Concert Band provide music at yesterday\u2019s Memorial Day Ceremony in Marpi. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-8\/'>memorial-8<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36874'>\n\t\t\t\tDelegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan and Maj. Neal V. Fisher II stand at attention after laying the ceremonial wreath at the Veterans Cemetery in Marpi. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-6\/'>memorial-6<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36885'>\n\t\t\t\tFamily members of fallen soldiers place flowers and light candles on the graves of their loved ones.\u00a0(Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-10\/'>memorial-10<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36876'>\n\t\t\t\tMembers of the community look at the graves of over 50 fallen military heroes at Monday\u2019s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans Cemetery in Marpi. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-2\/'>memorial-2<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36880'>\n\t\t\t\tThe Marianas High School Chorus leads the audience in singing the National and CNMI Anthems. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-12\/'>memorial-12<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36879'>\n\t\t\t\tAn American flag, plumeria flowers, and a lit candle cover the grave of a fallen soldier at the Marpi Veterans Cemetery. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-7\/'>memorial-7<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36886'>\n\t\t\t\tFamily members of fallen soldiers place flowers and lighted candles on the graves of their loved ones. (Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/fisher-fallen-heroes-guaranteed-better-hope-life\/memorial-11\/'>memorial-11<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-36877'>\n\t\t\t\t(Thomas A. Manglona II)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Saipan resident Linda T. Cabrera was brought to tears by yesterday\u2019s Memorial Day Ceremony. \u201cIt means so much to our family because of the recent passing of our mother and the service of our father,\u201d she told Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n<p>Cabrera, the daughter of fallen Scout Marine Gregorio Cabrera, 81, was joined by dozens of politicians, judges, military officials, and members of the community yesterday at the CNMI Veteran\u2019s Cemetery in Marpi to commemorate Memorial Day.<\/p>\n<p>Families and friends participated in the memorial tribute and flower presentation that paid homage to their loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>Cabrera\u2019s father, who died of natural causes in 2006, was deployed on his first mission before she was even born. The misty-eyed daughter said that Monday\u2019s ceremony was a way to \u201chonor the service members who saved us.\u201d Her mother, Escolastica, was also laid to rest eight months ago.<\/p>\n<p>She recalled the war stories her father used to tell her. \u201cHe would always tell me about how he served as a Scout marine. After World War II, he was one of many who were selected to join the military forces to clean up the remnants of the war and seek possible Japanese militants still hiding in the jungles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cabrera\u2019s story was one of many at the Memorial Day Service.<\/p>\n<p>According to CNMI Veterans Affairs Office director Vicente Camacho, military families, especially in the past 13 years, have faced the uncertainty of everyday life when their loved ones are deployed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt seems like a never-ending cycle of deployment as recent as the deployment of the Guam National Guard, who lost two soldiers,\u201d he said. \u201cFamilies of these fallen heroes leave behind families to fend for themselves. Wives have to take the role as head of the household, wives or husbands become single parents raising children.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The families, he said, are deprived of the normal family setting and the life they deserve.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe as a society need to realize that our fallen soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Eloy S. Inos expressed similar sentiments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a special feeling because we are about to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and Tinian this year,\u201d he said in his welcoming address. \u201cToday brings with it a plethora of emotion. For some it brings a feeling of sorrow, thinking of loved ones who are no longer with us. For some, this day, are still mourning. For other it brings a sense of pride. Pride knowing that when the going gets tough, there are people who stood in the face of adversity and who are brave enough to defend them, knowing the dangers that await them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Monday\u2019s event also featured keynote speaker Maj. Neal V. Fisher II.<\/p>\n<p>Fisher, Marine Corps Activity Guam Public Affairs Officer, said the fallen heroes\u2019 sacrifice \u201cguaranteed a better hope and life for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe honor their ultimate commitment to duty, honor, and country. The service members we honor today come from all walks of life, but they share several fundamental qualities. They possess courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty, and integrity,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Fisher said that many of the fallen did not ask to leave their homes to fight in distant battlefields.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey did not go to war because they love fighting, they were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways. They rose to the nations call because they want to protect the nations, who have given them, who have given us, so much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Over 50 fallen heroes\u2019 graves were graced with flowers and lit by candles in tribute of their service. Distinguished guests and military and veteran service members laid a ceremonial wreath in front of the Veterans Ceremony, following a 21-gun salute with Taps resonating in the background.<\/p>\n<p>The Marianas High School chorus, Saipan Southern High School JRTOC cadets, and Saipan Pacific Winds Concert band assisted with music and the posting of colors. <em><strong>(Thomas Manglona II)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saipan resident Linda T. Cabrera was brought to tears by yesterday\u2019s Memorial Day Ceremony. \u201cIt&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":36874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[21,200,67,38],"class_list":["post-36872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","tag-life","tag-military","tag-people","tag-saipan-tribune"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}