Now Public Law 17-60, House Bill 17-172 authorizes the Department of Public Land to designate one hectare of public land on Rota for the future veterans cemetery.
In an interview yesterday, Santos, Ind.-Rota and the bill’s author, said veterans and their families applaud the governor for signing the measure.
She said Rota residents who have served the country and sacrificed their lives, like Private First Class Joe Charfauros Jr., and U.S. Marine Corporal Dave Michael Santos, were buried in the San Jose Cemetery owned by the diocese on Rota. Other veterans who have passed away were buried in the same cemetery.
It is just proper to honor Rota’s fallen heroes in a cemetery dedicated just for them, she added.
Although there is a veterans cemetery on Saipan, it is a plane ride away from Rota, she said.
Fitial also signed Rep. Ray N. Yumul’s House Bill 17-144, now Public Law 17-61, which officially names the burial site in Marpi, “CNMI Veterans Cemetery.”
Yumul, R-Saipan in a separate interview, said the burial site was designated and completed in 2005 through $1.6 million in federal grants. The veterans cemetery was never formally established by law until today.
He thanked the governor for signing the bill in time for Veterans Day on Friday.
