The mayor earlier met with military officials who visited Tinian for a “familiarization tour,” according to Dela Cruz’s public information officer Allen Sandbergen.
Marine Forces Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen visited Tinian on Jan. 4.
Among those who visited Tinian on Feb. 3 were Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., Air Mobility Command commander at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and Brig Gen. Samuel D. Cox, 618th Air and Space Operations Center commander, also of Scott Air Force Base
According to Sandbergen, Dela Cruz was very pleased with Johns’ visit, saying “it is very encouraging to see that even the U.S. Air Force acknowledges Tinian’s vital role in the impending military buildup.”
The mayor said “Tinian must not be over looked.”
Sandbergen said the visiting military officials were met by Dela Cruz, the mayor’s military liaison officer Joe Kiyoshi, Department of Public Safety resident director Ray Pangelinan and local historian Don Farrell.
The visiting officials arrived aboard two Navy Seahawk helicopters after a brief stopover on Saipan.
They were accompanied by six other Air Force officials, Sandbergen said.
Upon arrival, they boarded a bus and were given a tour of North Field’s Runway Able, Atomic Bomb Pits 1 and 2, the USS Indianapolis Monument, Invasion Beach (Chulu) and Tinian Harbor.
They also visited Tinian Taga House Park before heading back to West Tinian Airport for their departure to Guam.
