THE American Battle Monuments Commission will soon begin renovations at the World War II Saipan American Memorial located in American Memorial Park. The memorial, dedicated on July 4, 1981, honors the U.S. servicemembers who were killed and wounded during the Marianas Campaign in 1944.
The 12 ft. tall granite pillar was quarried and manufactured in Italy. The inscription reads: “This memorial has been erected by the United States of America in humble tribute to its sons who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the liberation of the Marianas. 1941-1945.”
Originally, this memorial served as the centerpiece of the park before additional structures like the Court of Honor, Visitor Center, and Marianas Memorial were built. Notably, in 1985, Vice President George H.W. Bush participated in a wreath-laying ceremony following the completion of the seating area and landscaping.
The concrete plaza, benches, nearby pathways, and landscaping will be renovated. The flagpole, belltower, carillon, curved wall behind the obelisk, and commemorative plaque embedded in a boulder behind the seating area were all added in 1995. ABMC plans to remove those elements. The renovations aim to refocus the attention on the park’s original memorial.
The area around the memorial, including the sidewalks leading to it, will be closed to the public during construction. The main pathways from Micro Beach to the Court of Honor and the Visitor Center will remain open as much as possible, however safety is our highest priority. The park requests patience and understanding from the public during this period.
The American Battle Monuments Commission, established by Congress in 1923, is an executive branch agency responsible for honoring the service, achievements, and sacrifices of the U.S. armed forces through the guardianship of America’s 26 overseas commemorative cemeteries and 31 memorials, monuments and markers. More information can be found at ABMC Saipan Memorial (https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/about-saipan-memorial/).
