On November 21st in the Asan Beach Unit of War in the Pacific National Historical Park, scores of people representing the National Park Service, the US Navy, US Fish and Wildlife, and the Government of Guam attended the memorial service of Ron Wilson, former Facility Manager of War in the Pacific NHP and American Memorial Park. Ron passed away on Saturday, November 15th at the age of 57.
The ceremony began at 10:00 am and commenced with welcoming remarks being made by War in the Pacific and American Memorial Park Superintendent Eric Brunnemann. Brunnemann welcomed attendees and remarked on the amazing contributions made by Ron Wilson to the community of Guam, the War in the Pacific National Historial Park, American Memorial Park , the National Park Service, and the US Navy. He commented on how Ron lived a full and happy life and how his energy, optimism, commitment, and upbeat nature was contagious and infectious to all who had the pleasure of working with and knowing him. After Brunnemann spoke, there was a Parade of Colors presented by the Naval Hospital Color Guard which paraded the the flags of the United States of America, Guam, and the US Navy. After the colors were paraded, Mr. Ray Miranda sang both the National Anthem and the Guam Hymnn. These presentations and performances occurred alongside the ocean, within the grounds, and among the monuments that Ron worked vigorously to maintain during both his tours to Guam. LT Deann Coleman, Navy Chaplain then provided the invocation.
Following the invocation Jim Powell, maintenance worker at War in the Pacific NHP, offered the eulogy. Powell stressed Ron Wilson’s commitment, dedication, leadership, integrity, and positive attitude and declared that Wilson was a friend, mentor, and role model who he valued and admired immensly. Powell stated he “worshiped Ron and the ground he walked on”. Powell spoke kind and dear words that resonated with everyone in the audience. Few remained tearless and all those who knew Ron, knew that Powell’s complimentary words were truthful, accurate, and without hint of exageration. Powell’s Eulogy was followed by guest speaker Senior Chief Robert Smith of the US Navy Seabees. Smith spoke on how it is people like Ron that make the Seabees such an amazingly productive and contributing branch of the armed services. Ron served in the US Navy for twenty years.
Perhaps one of the most touching moments of the ceremony was when Superintendent Eric Brunnemann and Chuck Sayon, site manager of American Memorial Park in Saipan presented Colleen Wilson, Ron’s loving wife, with the flags that were flown over the two parks at the time of Ron’s death. The flags at both of these facilities were retired in honor of the acheivements and contributions that Ron made to both the parks over his years of service to the National Park Service in Guam and Saipan.
The ceremony was concluded with the playing of taps by Mr. Tony Sanchez and a 21 gun salute which was headed by Chief Chrisitan Cruz. After the salute, Eric Brunnemann offered closing remarks and invited those in attendance to join Ron’s family and coworkers at a lunch donated by the Arizona Musuem Memorial Association.
The ceremony celebrated the life, contributions, achievements, spirit, and memory of Ron Wilson- a man who contributed so much to so many. He made positive contributions to his community, the Seabees, and the National Park Service. He affected the lives of all those who knew him. His ceremony gave all those in attendance a chance to remember and reflect on all the positive that he brought into their lives and allowed all those present to be thankful to have had the chance to meet such an extraordinary man. Ron will be dearly missed by War in the Pacific, the American Memorial Park, the National Park Service, the US Navy, and everyone who had the pleasure to have met such a wonderful and honorable man.
