The commemoration was marked with a wreath-laying led by President Johnson Toribiong and veterans of the battle fought between the United States and Japan in the Pacific during the World War II.
Palau honored the fallen soldiers and veterans in a short ceremony held at the Bloody Nose Ridge memorial site in Peleliu.Toribiong welcomed the veterans, their families and friends who flew to Palau for the Sept. 15 , commemoration.Veterans Franklin Ponroy, James I. James and Herb Wiehs joined Toribiong in the wreath-laying.“I salute you and pay respect for the ultimate sacrifice you made 65 years ago,” Toribiong said in his special remarks.The president said the sacrifice made by the soldiers freed Palau.Peleliu State Governor Kang-ichi Uchau welcomed the veterans and thanked them for coming to Palau to grace the celebration.Ponroy, who was then a member of the 2nd Battalion , 1st Regiment , 1st marine Division , in his remarks recalled his days in Peleliu.Ponroy said when he left Peleliu during the battle, he told himself how he never wanted to see the island again.“ How I hated that island,” Ponroy said when he left Peleliu.He said that he is fortunate to be standing before the crowd and added that Peleliu has changed since then.“I am grateful to be here and talk to you,” Ponroy said. Ponroy was wounded during the battle which was considered the bloodiest battle in the Pacific due to the high number of casualty rate.Weihs said he was in Peleliu in 1944.He said he was urged by his son to visit Palau for the commemoration.“Everything was different, 65 years ago it was all sand and rock,” Weihs said.
