This week in Guam, the island community gathered to pay tribute to the victims of the Tinta and Faha massacres.
On July 15 and 16, 1944, with the American forces approaching Guam near the end of the Japanese occupation of the island in World War II, Japanese soldiers massacred nearly fifty Chamorro men and women from Merizo in two separate confrontations in caves in the Tinta and Faha areas just outside the village of Merizo.
On Monday morning there was a visit to the Tinta and Faha sites.
On Tuesday afternoon, residents and dignitaries gathered in front of the San Dimas Catholic Church for a special memorial ceremony to remember the survivors and the fallen of both massacres. There was a special rosary, followed by Mass celebrated by Father Mike Crisostomo and a memorial service.
The focal point of the ceremony was a monument that was built at the front of the church grounds with all the names of the victims on a bronze plaque. Wreaths were laid and family representatives also placed candles at the base of the structure.
Aside from honouring the 16 that were killed and the 14 that survived the Tinta Cave Massacre at the hands of Japanese soldiers on July 15, as well as the 30 men that were killed in the Faha Cave on July 16, other casualties from different wars were also remembered.
Merizo Mayor Ernest Chargualaf says each year, there are more empty seats during the ceremony. He notes with the first generation of World War II survivors now in their 70’s and 80’s, the younger generations need to step up to honour the martyrs that sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
“We need to touch the younger generations so they can understand and appreciate what we celebrate every year or what we observe every year,” said Chargualaf.
Consul General of Japan Hisatsugu Shimizu also attended the memorial. He expressed his condolences on behalf of the Japanese people.
“I wish you survivors and members of bereaved families peace and good health and sincerely hope that the friendly bonds between Japan and the United States, between Japan and Guam will be further strengthened.”
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News category: Asia Pacific.
