While the December 8th, 2002 Super Typhoon Pongsona may have closed the War in the Pacific National Historical Park museum, it has been unable to hinder the park’s enthusiasm or eagerness to share its resources and knowledge with the public. During the parks rebuilding period, staff are using their creativity to fulfill their commitment to the community.
Park Superintendent Eric Brunnemann, recently accepted an invitation for the National Park Service to participate in “Career Day” at Andersen Middle School. Eric brought along Park Ranger Ali Spittler, Park Ecologist Dwayne Minton, and Museum Curator Tammy Duchesne who exhibited resources, plant samples, and historic artifacts that would help explain the island’s cultural prehistory, natural resources, and the events of World War II. Park Ranger Ali Spittler, who is close to completing her degree in biology brought samples of plants (both native and introduced) which are typical examples of the vegetation on Guam. Ali brought leaves and samples of the “taotaomona” or banyan tree (Ficus prolixa), the Guam flower (Bouganvillea spp.), a vine (Passiflora suberosa), and leaves from a breadfruit tree. Ali, through the help of Park Ranger Elizabeth Cruz’s Aunt Lou Cruz made “amot pasmu” or pneumonia tea. A “suruhana” or a Chamorro medicine woman commonly made this tea from the leaves of Clerodendron inerme and Colubrina asiatica. Students were invited to taste this bitter tea which is supposed to help cure a person who has pneumonia. Park Superintendent Eric Brunnemann, an accomplished archeologist, brought prehistoric and replica ground-stone artifacts with samples of red clay that he ground for the students to demonstrate how ancient Chamorros made pigment. In addition to showcasing the uses of prehistoric tools, Eric also had plant leaves that he handled and manipulated to show how Chamorros made rope. Ecologist Dwayne Minton, brought in several samples of sand from a wide array of geographic locations including star sand from a local beach, volcanic sand from a northwest Hawaiian island, as well as sand from various coral atolls. Using a microscope, students were able to look at the different characteristics and composition of the various sand types, including the small animals that make up many of the individual grains. Dwayne also brought in a jar of microscopic marine life (including a small sea slug) that he collected from algae plants retrieved from the Asan Beach Unit. Students, through Dwayne’s efforts are more aware of the duties of an ecologist and learned first hand how to compare the indigenous sands on Guam to those of other Pacific Islands. Museum Curator Tammy Duchesne brought in three historic artifacts from the park’s museum collection. Tammy displayed an intricately engraved general issued World War II canteen. This canteen may have belonged to a Codetalker who served on Guam during the war. The canteen is engraved with “Kali-Sioux Reservation, Black Hills, South Dakota”, on one side and “Smokey Dias” on the other. It was displayed alongside a book featuring Codetalkers and an article, which appeared in the Lakota Journal, South Dakota about the very canteen that, was being exhibited. Tammy also showcased a 1944 scrapbook, which contained a soldier’s handwritten letters, photographs, magazines, programs, and official documents related to the soldier’s military service. This scrapbook which also included newspaper clippings from the 1940s was a big hit with students. The final artifact that was displayed was a leather aviator’s cap that once belonged to the Superintendent’s grandfather who served in the Army Airforce during the Pacific war. If you should discover historic artifacts within park boundaries please contact Museum Curator Tammy Duchesne at 477- 7240 (ext. 233). The public is reminded it is illegal to remove artifacts from historic sites. Violators are subject to arrest; conviction can carry criminal penalties of up to one (1) year and/or $10,000. Students enjoyed the diverse presentation, as there was clearly something that appealed to everyone. This visit gave park staff the opportunity to share its work and efforts to meet the parks mission, “to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of those participating in the campaigns of the Pacific Theater of World War II and to conserve and interpret outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects on the island of Guam...” This was the first school visit by Park staff since the closure of the museum. To have War in the Pacific staff visit your class or attend your event, please contact us at 472-7240 (ext. 236, 237, 230, 233) or fax 472- 7241. For more information and updates on the park, you may log on to website www.nps.gov/wapa.
