The plane circled the island before it dropped a huge crate containing the gifts onto a designated area within the state’s lagoon on Wednesday.
The gifts, according to Governor Edwin Chokai, are from US military personnel who are stationed on Guam.“They have been doing this for the past 50 years,” Chokai said. “Each year, at around this time, a US military plane would drop a crate, which contains gifts, on or next to our state.”Chokai further added that he and the traditional and elected leaders of the state are appreciative of this act. Moreover, he said that the US military personnel’s gesture is proof that there are “people beyond our reefs who care for and about us.”The crate that was dropped on Wednesday contained clothing, tools, kitchen utensils, fishing gears, and toys – even canned consumer goods.Resident of the state sorted and numbered the items. A representative of each of the households in the state randomly picked a number from a box – lottery format – and was given gifts that bear the number he or she picked.“Each household of the state had received a gift from the US military personnel on Guam,” Chokai said. “No one was left out.”According to some residents, they are grateful for the gifts and are thankful of the people who sent them; and hope to someday be able to give back.Chokai said that US military personnel stationed on Guam not only drop crates of gifts on Kayangel State, but also the other outlying states of Palau – Peleliu, Angaur, and the Southwest state of Sonsorol and Tobi.Chokai extends warm and heartfelt greetings to all of the military personnel who continue to spread goodwill.“I’d like to wish those who made this gift drop possible and all of the people of Kayangel a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” Chokai stated. “May they live long prosperous lives.”
