[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         REMEMBRANCE OF THE LIBERATION OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefner). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Guam [Mr. Underwood] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on June 15, 1944, the marines of the 2d 
and 4th Division stormed the shores of Saipan. From this violent 
encounter, the native people of the Northern Marianas with whom I share 
a common culture and language had their very first contact with the 
American Nation.
  The result of this encounter, violent to the extreme and resulting in 
enormous personal tragedies both for the heroic Americans and the 
people of the Northern Marianas was the beginning of a new political 
relationship. And the result of this relationship was the creation of 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands in 1976. This 
represents the only acquisition of territory by the United States since 
World War II and it was done so solemnly and by an overwhelming 
majority vote of the natives of the Northern Marianas.
  Yesterday represented the 50th anniversary of this encounter and 
there was no Federal commemoration here in Washington. Yesterday was 
the 50th anniversary of this momentous event not only for the people of 
these Islands, but the veterans for whom the words Saipan and Tinian 
can only mean sacrifice and valor and the commemoration in these 
Islands had no representation by the present administration.
  As reported in yesterday's Washington Post, the highest ranking 
Federal presence were officers who are stationed on Guam.
  On July 21, 1944, units of the 3rd Marine Division and 77th Infantry 
had their own D-days as they stormed the shores of Guam. Unlike the 
battles of Saipan and Tinian, the people who were being liberated from 
the hands of the Japanese--the Chamorros of Guam, my people--had over 4 
decades of experience with America. In fact, Guam was the only U.S. 
territory whose people were occupied by enemy forces during World War 
II.
  On July 21, 1944, the marines stormed ashore to liberate a people who 
had suffered forced marches, starvation, beheadings, torture and forced 
labor. My own parents lost children in this conflagration and they were 
among the people who rejoiced at the sight of the Americans and the 
deliverance from suffering which they represented. The sight of a truly 
grateful people brought tears to the faces of battle-hardened veterans 
as they bore witness to the sufferings of my people and the happiness 
and sincerity of little children who put together little homemade flags 
to honor the United States.
  To date, Mr. Speaker, we have attempted to bring national attention 
to these momentous events which commemorate not only the heroism of 
those who fought in the Pacific theatre but the unique and special 
relationships of this country with these islanders--and we have not 
been successful in bringing the proper attention and respect to the 
Pacific theatre.
  I have organized a national commemoration on June 25 at Arlington 
National Cemetery. The people of Guam will be joined at this national 
commemoration by the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. Together, 
our Pacific-American communities will honor all those who fought for 
freedom in the Pacific. Together, we will honor those who died on our 
beaches with a remembrance service that begins at 10:00 am and 
concludes with a solemn wreath laying ceremony at the site of the Tomb 
of the Unknown Soldier.
  I have invited the President, Vice President and senior cabinet 
Members to join us at Arlington for this national commemoration. 
Unfortunately, the President will not be attending, nor will the Vice 
President or the Secretary of Defense. I do not know what else competes 
on their schedule with this commemoration of the war in the Pacific, 
but I am at a loss to explain the lack of understanding of their 
offices to these most important events. I am at a loss to explain to 
the people of Guam why the national leadership takes their remembrance 
of liberation so lightly. I am at a loss to explain to the veterans of 
the war in the Pacific why their battles do not deserve national 
recognition, equal to the attention heaped on those who fought in 
Europe.
  When the liberated people gather in Arlington to honor the 
Liberators, it will be Americans honoring Americans. Nowhere else, 
except from the people of Guam and the Northern Marianas, can this 
unique aspect of World War II be celebrated. The highest tributes of 
World War II will be the simple yet most profound words echoed by our 
people, from one American family member to another--thank you. We will 
fulfill our solemn duty to never forget the sacrifices of the blood 
spilled on our beaches and our islands. With or without our national 
leadership, we will meet at Arlington on June 25th to honor the heroism 
of those who died, to honor the valor of the veterans, and to Honor 
America.

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