By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang and Lt. Gov. Dennis James Mendiola on Monday declared November as CNMI Veterans and Military Families’ Month and Nov. 3–11, 2025 as CNMI Veterans Week.
In the presence of CNMI veterans, they signed the proclamation in the governor’s conference room ahead of the Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at American Memorial Park to pay tribute to veterans for their service and sacrifice.
The governor and lieutenant governor are both veterans themselves, having served in the U.S. Army. The governor spent two years in Vietnam in the early 1970s, while the lieutenant governor was commissioned as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
In his remarks prior to signing the proclamation, the governor urged the community to take time on Nov. 11, 2025, “to remember our veterans, those who are now resting in eternal life and those who are still with us today.”
He thanked veterans for courageously responding to the nation’s call to protect and defend democracy, the freedom to exercise people’s rights under the U.S. Constitution, the preservation of the rule of law, and, most importantly, to deter and ward off bad actors from harming the people and the nation.
“In the hearts of the hundreds of millions of our nation’s citizens, you are the real heroes and defenders of our lives,” the governor said.
To the families of veterans, the governor added, “We are strong because we unite together with our nation in the pursuit of our democratic cause.” He thanked them for their love and support for both the veterans and the nation.
For his part, Mendiola said, “Of course, we all understand the sacrifices.” He added that those who were deployed know the sacrifices of freedom firsthand, and “likewise, those who weren’t deployed but signed on a dotted line to put their lives on the line when the calling came.”
He extended his sincere appreciation on behalf of the administration to all veterans and their families “for all the sacrifices that you’ve made for this Commonwealth and the U.S.”
Joining the governor and lieutenant governor were Office of Veterans Affairs Executive Officer Jose DLG Crisostomo, Special Assistant for Military Affairs U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Ret.) Edward C. Camacho, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony I. Macaranas, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Juan Pua, Special Assistant for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Clement Bermudes, and other CNMI veterans.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.