Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and Herman’s Modern Bakery President Herman “Junpan” T. Guerrero pose for photo during the Liberation Day parade at the Garapan Fishing Base on Thursday.
AHEAD of Guam’s 80th Liberation Day on July 21, 2024, Gov. Lourdes “Lou” Aflague Leon Guerrero joined the CNMI in celebrating its 78th Liberation Day on Thursday.
Leon Guerrero, who sat next to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang on the grandstand during the parade on Beach Road, said, “We are united in our celebration.”
She wished the CNMI people “Happy Liberation Day,” noting that the event celebrates the release of local people from internment camps on July 4, 1946.
“We continue to be one Marianas,” she said. “We share the same history, we are very united in our culture, our language, our food and we need to continue working very hard to keep that solidarity together,” Leon Guerrero added.
She congratulated Palacios for his leadership and his endeavors to continue providing the quality of life that the people of the CNMI deserve.
At the invitation of Palacios, Leon Guerrero said, “I am very honored to come here and share with him the celebration of the 78th Liberation Day of our CNMI brothers and sisters.”
In a separate interview, Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho said the “impressive preparations” of the Liberation Day Committee and his office “really showed we are stronger when we are all together.”
He said in preparing for this year’s Liberation Day parade, he brought together island residents from different ethnic groups and religions. “This is the evidence of our community coming together,” he added.
He also noted that this year’s celebration was blessed with good weather.
“This island is a really diverse community, and it really shows that people are coming forward helping me promote a safe community and a clean island,” he added.
He said regardless of the current economic situation, he believes that “we are all resilient.”
“So this is where we are at now,” he added.
Everything went well
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas said preparing for the Liberation Day parade was a long process.
He said they had continuous meetings with the Saipan Mayor’s Office and the Liberation Day Committee so “we can make sure we provide the highest [level of] safety for the community.”
He said they also conducted briefings with CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management to make sure they have a contingency plan in case something goes wrong.
“We are very happy that the turnout this morning went well. Nobody’s hurt. Although it’s hot, overall, people have just been very compliant with all the instructions,” he said.
There was no report of medical or other emergencies, he added.
Macaranas said he was proud of his fellow DPS officers, who “gave what they can because their mindset is, ‘I have to be more vigilant, more proactive for the safety of people.’ ”
