From September 29 to October 3rd, board members of the Arizona Memorial Museum Association (AMMA) paid a visit to their most remote parks, War in the Pacific NHP (WAPA) in Guam and American Memorial Park (AMME) in Saipan. AMMA is the cooperating association for the USS Arizona Memorial, WAPA, and AMME National Memorials and Parks.During this week AMMA President Tom Shaw, AMMA board members Patricia Lucas, Noel Bragg, and Al Rodriguez, and AMMA Publications Manager Ray Sandla met with employees and affiliates of WAPA and AMME to gain an understanding of the parks’ current statuses and the new directions the parks maybe headed since Supertyphoon Pongsona. In addition to meeting with park officials and employees, AMMA board members also were able to meet with many of Guam’s elected officials and leaders such as Senators Joanne Brown and Tina Munez Barnes, members of the Hagatna Foundation, representatives from Guam’s Visitor’s Bureau, the Historic Preservation Office, the director of the Guam Museum, the Cultural Resource Manager for the Navy, the Superintendent of the Pacific Islanders Support Office, and Guam’s First Lady Joanne Camacho. Board members listened intently as NPS employees and community members discussed the existing possibilities for island cooperation and growth while also planning for the 60th Anniversary of the liberation of Guam and the battle of Saipan.
During their time on Guam, board members learned about the various opportunities that may be made possible by developing partnerships with local non-profits, local government agencies, and the US Navy. Board members also learned about WAPA’s efforts to design and develop a website that will serve to “commemorate and honor those who bravely served in the Pacific theater”. This website will be a crucial and critical means of providing interpretation about the Pacific Theater of WWII and the events associated with the invasion, occupation, and liberation of Guam.
After spending a few days visiting WAPA park units the AMMA delegation went to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands to visit the islands of Tinian and Saipan. Board members went to Tinian to see the plaques and signs that serve to designate the National Historical Site where the atomic bombs pits are located. It was from these pits on Tinian that the atomic bombs “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” were loaded into the Enola Gay and Bock’s Car before they set flight to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The dropping of these bombs is what ultimately ended the war in the Pacific. After visiting the historical sites on Tinian board members and accompanying AMMA and NPS employees went to Saipan.
Once arriving in Saipan, the group proceeded to follow a very busy agenda which brought them to a number of historical sites including Aslito Airfield, the Last Command Post, and Marpi Point which includes the infamous Suicide and Bonsai Cliffs. After viewing future areas of possible way-side exhibits, the group went to the American Memorial Park to meet with AMME Park Manager Chuck Sayon. Sayon showed the visiting delegation tentative exhibit plans for the up-coming visitors center on Saipan (http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/amme/ppdocuments/ammevc.pdf) and discussed the ambitious efforts being made by the CMNI government and NPS to incorporate American Memorial Park into the revitalization of Garapan.
While their visit to Guam may have been for less than a week, the Board and its employees were occupied and busy throughout each long day of their stay. Although WAPA’s museum and visitor center has been closed for almost a year as a result of Super-typhoon damage, it is quite obvious to the Board that WAPA is working to reestablish and reinvent itself by expanding its our outreach, education, and interpretation programs, while AMME continues its plans to open a new museum in 2004.
Board members seemingly enjoyed their very busy and non-stop week, and the staff of WAPA and AMME enjoyed their input and suggestions. The partnership between NPS and the USS Arizona Museum Association is good for both agencies and both look forward to a strong future together.
