[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 83 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               REMEMBERING THE WAR IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

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                            HON. RON de LUGO

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 27, 1994

  Mr. de LUGO. Mr. Speaker, last week, I took the floor to express 
concern about the administration's lack of response to the Delegate 
from Guam's efforts to have the sacrifices of the Marianas campaign of 
World War Two properly honored on their 50th anniversary.
  I urged that there be top representation at the commemoration he 
organized at Arlington National Cemetery and high-level participation 
in the ceremonies remembering the battles for Guam, the Northern 
Marianas, and Palau.
  I am now pleased to report that the Secretaries of the Navy and the 
Interior spoke at the services at Arlington which Congressman Underwood 
was joined in arranging by resident representative Babauta of the 
Northern Mariana Islands. The Commandant of the Marine Corps will go to 
the battle sites for the observances there.
  I feel strongly about remembering the suffering that the people of 
Guam endured during the occupation of their island by the enemy because 
it was so great, because they so defiantly maintained their loyalty to 
the United States throughout their oppression, and because issues 
relating to that history still have not been fully resolved.
  These issues have included the military's continued control of much 
more of the island than it needs to and the lack of recognition of the 
heroism and the heartbreak of Guamanians while captives of the enemy.
  Our new colleague from Guam is having notable success in addressing 
this situation.
  We have passed a bill to require that title to thousands of acres of 
land be transferred to the territory.
  He is conducting a series of conferences on the Federal control of 
land issue that have found the military willing to give up thousands of 
acres more.
  Guam's united leaders persuaded the Base Closure Commission that 
facilities on the island should be considered, freeing up valuable 
property needed for development by the airport named for Guam's great 
first Delegate, A.B. Won Pat, who began many of these efforts.
  A monument paying tribute to all who sacrificed on Guam during the 
war is being constructed at the War in the Pacific National Park.
  Finally, I also want to note the reasons to also acknowledge what the 
peoples of the Northern Marianas and Palau went through during World 
War Two.
  Their islands were controlled by Japan before the war; but not by 
their choice. Their islands were also the site of some of the bloodiest 
battles of the war; and they were caught in the middle. And the war 
also resulted in a relationship with our nation which led them to 
choose to unite with our country in the case of the Northern Marianas 
and to more freely associate with us in the case of Palau, 
relationships which are to the benefit of both them and us.

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