On Saturday, January 17, 2004, several dignitaries visited War in the Pacific National Historical Park. The park was visited by the Honorable Gale Norton, Secretary of the US Interior, David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior, the Honorable Richard Pombo, US Congressman from California, Madeline Z. Bordallo, US Congresswoman from Guam, and the Honorable Eni Faleomazaega, US Congressman of Samoa.
While the delegation maintained a busy schedule on their trip to Pohnpei, Guam, and Saipan, they specifically made time to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial Wall in the Asan Bay Overlook Unit of War in the Pacific National Historical Park. The ceremony began with opening remarks from the park’s Superintendent Eric Brunnemann and following his brief comments, Flora Baza Quan sang both the National Anthem and the Guam Hymn. The Reverend Father Jeffrey San Nicholas of the Archdiocese of Agana provided the invocation and then Madeline Bordallo, committed Congresswoman from Guam, gave remarks as did the Governor of Guam, the Honorable Felix G. Camacho.
After brief comments were made by the Congresswoman and the Governor, Pombo, Norton, Camacho, Bordallo, Cohen, Faleomazaega, and the Honorable Ben Pangelinan, Speaker of the Guam Legislature, participated in the laying of a wreath at the Memorial Wall. Following the presentation of the wreath at the Memorial Wall, Leo Valdea and Jr. Taijeron performed “Taps” and then the St. Francis School Honor Choir sang a series of beautiful songs. The benediction was provided by LT Daniel Link, US Navy Chaplain.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all participants and observers joined together to reflect on the ceremony while enjoying the panoramic vista provided from atop Nimitz Hill at the Asan Overlook Unit.
