THIS October, the 17th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, in cooperation with American Memorial Park on Saipan, will hold In Memoriam, a commemorative ceremony in remembrance of nearly a thousand Chamorro and Carolinian civilians who lost their lives during the fierce Battle of Saipan nearly 80 years ago in 1944.
Recently, we also joined the Mayor of Saipan Liberation Day organizing committee in marking the opening of the gates on July 4, 1946 of Camp Chalan Kanoa when Chamorros and Carolinians were permitted to return freely to their land and lives after World War II. As then-Mayor David M. Apatang stated in 2019: “We never forget the past, especially what happened during World War II and in the civilian camps following the war.”
Let us pause and reflect on the values we so cherish and take for granted for nearly 80 years in pursuit and celebration of freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness and exercise of self-determination as a people of our sacred Mariana islands, a place we know no other than that is home to us, as poignantly reflected in our CNMI Anthem, “I Tano gi halom Tasi” — a place that saw nations come, and nations go, and ultimately a place the indigenous people of Islas Sinahi Pacifico have freely chosen as a pathway of democracy and self-governance in political relationship with the United States of America as enshrined in our Covenant and the CNMI Constitution.
Let us celebrate the Commonwealth’s longstanding peace in diversity among our courageous men and women in uniform who willingly made the ultimate sacrifice, and the indigenous civilian brothers and sisters whose lives were untimely taken for the sake of freedom, liberty. Let us also celebrate the pursuit of happiness that will allow our Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to achieve the quality of life anchored in the culture of our island traditions, customs, values, and sense of place.
The Marianas Memorial at American Memorial Park on Saipan honors Chamorros and Carolinians who lost their lives as a result of this war, especially during the massive aerial bombardment on Saipan 78 years ago on June 11, 1944.
The closure of the civilian Camp Chalan Kanoa followed. This liberation from the camp conjures painful and joyful memories and remembrance which we shall not forget as we honor and celebrate Liberation Day as a day of remembrance, strength, resolve, determination and renewal in rightful affirmation of the place that is home, our islands, and our heritage interconnected throughout the Marianas Islas Sinahi Pacifico!
May our 77th Liberation Day be a harbinger of lasting hope, lasting peace, and prosperity for the islands, the islanders and the island citizens, including guests to the islands.
From this day forward, let us re-double our effort and our commitment in reaching out to others and educating them about our islands and our heritage.
May our commitment as island people and citizens remain unabated, grow stronger, and continually renewed in remembrance of our dearly departed civilians caught in a war not of their making, and who perished for the cause of freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness and exercise of self-determination that we all enjoy today and share with others, too.
We honor and remember the islanders who suffered compulsory detention at Camp Chalan Kanoa. We also honor and remember our island leaders who led the pathway to our political relationship with the United States of America that has withstood the test of time and has allowed us to cherish our island traditions, customs, values, and sense of place as islanders and Americans, too.
MARIAN DLG TUDELA
Chairwoman
ANTONIA M. TUDELA
Vice Chairwoman
CARMEN C. PANGELINAN
Secretary
Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council
