THE sky will be lit with fireworks this Sunday night as the CNMI celebrates Liberation Day and the Fourth of July.
Through the support of friends in the private sector, the Office of the Mayor of Saipan invites the CNMI community to “a loud and colorful” fireworks show beginning at 8 p.m. at the Garapan Fishing Base.
To continue adhering to the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force guidelines, all participants are encouraged to park at the fishing base grounds and remain in their vehicles to watch the show.
The Office of the Mayor of Saipan will coordinate with the Department of Public Safety to maintain traffic and crowd control, as well as to ensure compliance with the guidelines.
The fireworks show will last for about 15-20 minutes.
The public is asked to exercise caution when entering and exiting the fishing base parking areas and the parking area in front of the Kristo Rai Church.
“The fireworks show is for everyone and we are making it a reality this year for our residents and visitors. We hope to resume our annual Fourth of July Liberation Day activities when the pandemic is no longer a public health emergency and our lives slowly return to pre-pandemic period,” Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang said.
Access to the pier at the fishing base will be closed to the public beginning Friday, July 2, through Monday, July 5, for the purpose of ensuring the platform and setup of the pyrotechnics conform to safety standards.
All boaters are also asked not to enter the launching ramp from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, 2021.
“We appreciate the public and boaters’ cooperation during this period and apologize for this inconvenience,” Apatang said.
Last year, there was no Liberation Queen fundraising pageant, and Liberation Day was celebrated virtually via Zoom.
Liberation Day commemorates the anniversary of the release of civilians from protective custody of the U.S. military at Camp Chalan Kanoa on July 4, 1946.
A safe celebration
U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan said he and and his wife Andrea are wishing everyone Happy Liberation Day.
“We celebrate Liberation Day as the day when our people were no longer required to remain inside the military camp after World War II. It must have been a sense of great relief — freedom — for all those who walked out the front gates of the camp, and headed out to their homes and ranches, to start making a living once again in peace,” Kilili said.
He said, “We also celebrate Independence Day. For it was on July 4, 1776, when the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square, declaring America’s Independence — and freedom — from British rule. One year later, on July 4, 1777, Philadelphia marked Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with bonfires, bells and fireworks.”
As the community celebrates Independence Day and Liberation Day, Kilili is urging everyone to also “remember in our minds, hearts and prayers our men and women in the uniformed services.”
“And let us give thanks to our public health agencies, health officials and all our front liners for an outstanding effort that kept all of us safe from the virus,” the congressman said.
For his part, House Minority Leader Ivan Blanco wishes “each and everyone a Happy July 4th and Liberation Day! Enjoy and stay safe.”
