“We always come here to visit grandpa, and we always bring him gifts,” Michail said.
A couple of feet away, Carla Agulto was placing flowers and fruit on top of the grave of her aunt Isabel Taitano, her uncle Alfred Taitano’s dependant who died in February 2007. On the next lane was the grave of Carla’s father, SFC Robert Edward Lee Smith, a Vietnam War veteran who died from an illness here in February 1994.
Carla’s mother, Evalista Smith, said she and the whole family visits her husband’s grave often.
“We just transferred his remains here from another cemetery in 2009, and since then, we always visit him here,” Smith said.
Keynote speaker Brig. Gen. John W. Doucette, 36th Wing Installation Commander, Andersen AFB Guam, and Deputy Commander Joint Region Marianas, said freedom does not come free.
“Men and women of the NMI have been serving since World War II. This willingness to serve and sacrifice has been proven by the fact that the Marianas have the highest percentage of enlistment in the U.S. military,” Doucette said.
“As we pause and reflect on the origins of the Memorial Day, let us remember that 14 soldiers from the CNMI have sacrificed their lives in defending islands and nation in war against terror, and the struggle will continue,” he added.
He said Memorial Day celebrates the courage, dedication, and selfless sacrifice of the sacrifices of these heroes who departed from their families.
“Let us honor these warriors by not forgetting them. Their sacrifices should form the basis of our gratefulness, and to make their sacrifice worthwhile, let us never forget that our freedom is not free,” Doucette said.
The Memorial Day services included a B-52 flyover from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Nimot AFB, North Dakota.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said it is always an honor to commemorate Memorial Day.
“These sacred grounds serve as a lasting reminder of the solemn sacrifice of how our heroes have given their lives for our country. We are here to remember and honor those who have done their duty as God allowed them to do. We are among heroes who unselfishly risked their lives so that you and I can continue to live in freedom. We know who they are — we visit their graves and note the dates of their shortened lives on the tombstones. We know their loved ones, their children, their husband and wives, and friends,” Fitial said.
“On this day, we also honor our living sevicemembers, active and retired for their contribution to the defense of the country, look at what good they have done for all of us,” Fitial said.
CNMI Military and Veterans Affairs Executive Director Ruth Coleman said for more than 200 years, Americans have enjoyed the blessings of a peace-loving nation protected by the selfless service of men and women in uniform standing lonely watches on far-distant lands and against the forces of fear and tyranny when necessary.
“Freedom is our cause but it does not come free and many paid the ultimate price. The America we know would not be the same were it not for the men and women we honor on Memorial Day,” Coleman said.
