Last March, Senate Resolution 16-31 was adopted calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior to build a memorial in the CNMI to honor the Seabees who helped build the islands from the ruins of World War II.
The U.S. Seabees first came ashore in the Northern Marianas on June 15, 1944 to fight alongside the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Seabees of the Sixth Naval Construction Brigade along with the 302nd Pontoon Detachment commanded by Commodore Paul James Halloran of the Civil Engineer Corps, built the largest airport in the world of its time — Tinian’s B-29 airport, consisting of North Field and West Field.
They also built electricity and water connections around the islands.
But Jonathan B. Jarvis, regional director of the National Park Service, told Senate clerk Dolores Bermudes in a letter that their office currently discourages the establishment of new commemorative works which now require an act of the U.S. Congress or the approval by the director of the National Park Service, subject to a consultation process.
Jarvis also noted that the Seabees who died on Tinian or Saipan are memorialized on the Court of Honor and Flag Circle at American Memorial Park.
Nonetheless, he said efforts are underway to emphasize the role of the Seabees in different communities like setting up an oral history listening kiosk.
“As part of the Seabees exhibit, the NPS envisions the development of an oral history listening kiosk where visitors can hear Seabees share their memories of the events on Saipan, Tinian and other sites. The NPS will seek opportunities to share these oral histories with visitors to American Memorial Park,” said Jarvis.
Other materials like a brochure, Web page and interpretive programs that describe the significant contributions of the Seabees in the CNMI will also be created.
“The NPS will make use of available oral histories, historic images and other resources to tell this compelling and important story,” said Jarvis.
“These NPS efforts have been undertaken as a way of telling and commemorating the Seabees story in lieu of establishing a new memorial,” he added.
