“TO honor our fallen veterans, to keep our homes a place worth fighting for, we must do our best to live well and to be good to one another,” said U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Lt. Col. Albert S. Flores Jr., the keynote speaker in this year’s Memorial Day ceremony on Saipan.
He noted that Memorial Day is distinct from Veterans Day.
On Veterans Day, he said, “we honor and celebrate those who served in uniform. But Memorial Day, on the contrary, is a day marked with sadness. It is appropriate for us to be sad, and to pause, and to grieve, to remember, and to be thankful.”
“We are thankful,” Flores added, “because as American citizens, we enjoy a blanket of freedom and safety, that is only possible because courageous men and women stand ready to protect us, and willingly lay down their lives for us. There are 102 veterans from our nation’s armed services whose final resting place is here in Marpi. Some of whom died during active service. Some were young, some were old, but all were patriots.”
He added, “Our nation designates those families who have lost a loved one killed in action as Gold Star families. We have some of those Gold Star family members present with us this morning.”
Flores then asked the audience to rise and applaud all of the Gold Star family members.
“We as a nation are clearly indebted to the veterans who died serving their country. We must ask ourselves, how do we honor their legacy? How do we ensure their service was not in vain?” Flores asked.
“Holding events like this is a wonderful way to do so. The cemetery grounds are beautifully decorated; the CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs has done a tremendous job organizing and putting on this ceremony; the color guard looks great; and there are wonderful people here to honor our fallen veterans.
“But this ceremony is once a year. We owe it to our fallen veterans, to live year-round in a way that makes their sacrifice worth it. We owe it to our fallen veterans, to ensure the United States of America, each of her states, territories, and our own Commonwealth, continues to be a home worth fighting for,” Flores said.
A couple of years ago, he said, former Secretary of Defense James Mattis, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, was asked, “What is our nation’s greatest threat?”
His response, Flores said, “might surprise some of you. It wasn’t one of America’s adversaries; it wasn’t some new weapon or technology being developed. General Mattis believes our nation’s greatest threat is the current state of divisiveness of our own people.”
“And so,” Flores said, “to honor our fallen veterans, to keep our homes a place worth fighting for, we must do our best to live well and to be good to one another. We need not agree on all, but our national security is dependent upon our ability to stand together for what is right and just in the world.”
Flores is a 19-year combat veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq and two combat tours in Afghanistan. He is also an assistant U.S. attorney for the Districts of Guam and the NMI.
Other speeches
Flores’ keynote address followed the remarks of CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs Executive Officer Stanley T. Iakopo and Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
Pre-ceremonial music as well as the playing of the U.S. and CNMI anthems were performed by the Saipan Pacific Winds Concert Band.
A call to order was given by Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Pacific Areas District 6 Commander Brad Ruszala, followed by the posting of colors by the Saipan Southern High School JROTC Manta Ray Battalion Color Guard.
An invocation was delivered by Bishop Ryan Jimenez prior to opening remarks.
Following the keynote address was the Roll Call of Fallen Comrades led by Ruszala who read the names of the CNMI’s fallen heroes laid to rest at the cemetery, as well as those who were laid to rest elsewhere.
Participating in the ceremonial laying of the wreath were two SSHS JROTC Manta Ray Battalion cadets, the governor, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, other CNMI officials, servicemembers and members of the public.
Department of Public Safety officers fired a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of “Taps” by the Saipan Pacific Winds Concert Band and Sam Sosa on the bagpipe.
CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs Officer Bernie B. Dela Cruz then gave closing remarks, extending gratitude to all those in attendance for honoring the lives of the nation’s fallen servicemembers.
The SSHS JROTC Manta Ray Battalion Color Guard retired the colors, a few minutes before four F/A-18 Hornets from the Marine All-weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 conducted a flyover above the CNMI Veterans Cemetery.
Similar Memorial Day ceremonies were held on Tinian and Rota.
Four F/A-18 Hornets from the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 conduct a flyover across the CNMI Veterans Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2022.
The graves at the CNMI Veterans Cemetery are adorned with U.S. flags, CNMI flags, flowers, and a candle.
Photos of the fallen heroes of the CNMI.
A ceremonial wreath lies at the foot of the U.S. flag at the CNMI Veterans Cemetery.
Dignitaries, veterans, and servicemembers pose for a photo with the ceremonial wreath.
Veterans salute the nation’s fallen heroes.
A boy pays tribute to his father, a fallen hero.
Community members stand during the singing of the national anthem.
Department of Public Safety officers prepare for the 21-gun salute.
LTC Albert S. Flores Jr. delivers the keynote address.
CNMI Office of Veterans Affairs Executive Director Stanley T. Iakopo gives opening remarks.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres gives welcoming remarks.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Pacific Affairs District 6 Commander Brad Ruszala reads the Roll Call of Fallen Comrades.
