The ceremony followed the memorial Mass at Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Chalan Kanoa at 10 a.m.
CNMI Military Veterans Affairs Office executive director Ruth Coleman told the Variety yesterday that Manglona is the 15th hero laid to rest in the veterans cemetery.
Brig. Gen. Alexander Kovlov, commander of the 9th Mission Support Command of the U.S. Army in Hawaii, presented a U.S. flag, a posthumous promotion and an Army of Good Conduct Medal to Manglona’s widow, Brenda.
Kovlov also presented another U.S. flag to Manglona’s parents.
Manglona’s widow and his parents each received a CNMI flag from Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez.
A 21-gun salute was fired in honor of Manglona who also received full military honors from Sgt. 1st Class Baldomero Badiango, the non-commissioned officer in charge, the members of the 9th Mission Support in Hawaii, 368th MP and the 302nd Quartermaster from Saipan and Guam.
Other U.S. Army officers present were Lt. Col. Lance Patterson, MSgt. Joseph Santos of the 196th Brigade, Air Force Chaplain Leonard, and Capt. John Colburn, detachment commander for 100th Battalion who escorted Manglona all the way from Texas.
“It was a remarkable ceremony, something that the family will always remember,” Coleman said.
She urged the community to continue praying for the other servicemembers and to continue giving support to the family of Manglona.
Manglona’s body was flown to Saipan on Oct. 23, 2008. He died in Texas while training in preparation for a one-year deployment to Kuwait.
