TODAY, Friday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m., the 17th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, in cooperation with American Memorial Park on Saipan, is set for the return of its annual In Memoriam commemorative remembrance, blessing, and meditative ceremony for nearly a thousand Chamorros and Carolinian civilians who perished during the fierce Battle of Saipan nearly 80 years ago in June 1944.
The Marianas Memorial Monument was completed on June 13, 2004, a project organized by then-Gov. Juan N. Babauta, when he was the CNMI’s resident representative in Washington, D.C. Babauta was also responsible for the commemorative recognition of 50 Marianas Marine Scouts who served in the United State Marines as scouts after the war.
Babauta together with then-Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, was joined by then-Bishop Thomas A. Camacho and Father Isaac Ayuyu for the Mass of remembrance, after which Babauta attended the ceremony at Marianas Memorial along with then-Youth Congress Speaker Alvin “Champ” Fejeran, who recited the 933 names etched in the granite tombstone.
Veterans, government officials, families, relatives, friends and other members of the community joined the commemorative fellowship and remembrance at American Memorial Park early Sunday morning 20 years ago in 2004, to witness the unveiling of the first granite edifice honoring the civilian Chamorro and Carolinian lives lost in the Battle of Saipan during World War II in 1944.
Ten years after the unveiling in 2004, the 12th Saipan Municipal Council held its first In Memoriam ceremony in October 2014, and in the following years except in 2018 due to Super Typhoon Yutu, returned in 2019, and postponed all throughout the covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
In October 2022, a similar event was hosted by American Memorial Park.
This year sees the return of In Memoriam with the 17th municipality council leadership as host of In Memoriam, in cooperation with American Memorial Park and the CNMI and municipal leadership.
In a public statement, 17th Council Chairwoman Marian DLG. Tudela, Vice Chairwoman Tonie M. Tudela and Secretary Carmen C. Pangelinan invite families, relatives, friends, and members of the Commonwealth community to participate in the one-hour In Memoriam remembrance, blessing, and prayer for our dearly departed children, manamko’, women and men, who perished during the Battle of Saipan. We are forever indebted to them for the life, liberty, and freedom enshrined in our Covenant with the United States of America.
Program
• 4 p.m. – Musical Interlude: Marianas High School Glee Club, Instructor Harold Easton, Student Director Jane Mozunder
• 4:05 p.m. – Master of Ceremonies Luis John “LJ” Castro
• 4:09 p.m. – Posting of Colors: PSS JROTC Capt. James Burke & Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni Siruelo
• 4:12 p.m. – Singing of U.S. and NMI anthems: Marianas High School Glee Club, Instructor Harold Easton, Student Director Jane Mozunder
• 4:15 p.m. – Invocation: Father Isaac Ayuyu
• 4:20 p.m. – Commemorative Speaker: Former Gov. Juan N. Babauta
Musical Interlude
• 4:25 p.m. – Presentations/Placements of Wreaths
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios
Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang
U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan
Superintendent Barbara Alberti
SNILD Chair JP Sablan
Speaker Ed Villagomez
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero
Indigenous Affairs Resident Executive Ross Manglona
Carolinian Affairs Executive Assistant Felix Nogis
Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho
Northern Islands Mayor Valentino Taisacan
17th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council leadership
• 4:35 p.m. – Candle Light Vigil: Saipan Christian Mothers/17th Council Leadership/ Families
Musical Interlude
• 4:40 p.m. – Blessing of the Departed: Father Isaac Ayuyu
Ma Guaifi I Kulu: Luis Kapileo
• 4:50 p.m. – Benediction: Pastor Michael Rodgers, Grace Christian Church
• 4:55 a.m. – Mensahin Agradesimentu: Chairwoman Marian DLG. Tudela, 17th Council Leadership
• 5 p.m. – Retiring of Colors: JROTC Capt. James Burke and Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni Siruelo
