On War Survivor Remembrance Day, the people of Guam came together to honor manåmko’ who endured the horrors of the Japanese occupation. Their stories are not just history — they are the heartbeat of our island, a reminder of the strength and sacrifice that define who we are as a people.

With solemn hearts and reverence in their voices, Guam opened a month-long journey of remembrance — beginning with War Survivor Remembrance Day. At the Dulce Nombre De Maria Cathedral-Basilica, war survivors, their families, and island leaders gathered to honor those who lived through one of Guam’s darkest chapters: the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Speaker Frank Blas, Jr. shared, "The men and women that surround you that make up our Greatest Generation, the ones who survived the captivity, the ones who endured the suffering, the ones who witness the horrors and atrocities."

The Guam Legislature, alongside the War Survivor Memorial Foundation and Manenggon Memorial Foundation, also held a special ceremony at the Guam Congress Building, presenting Resolution 52, and recognizing June 28 as an official day of remembrance.

The date isn’t random — it marks the day in 1947 when President Harry S. Truman formally acknowledged Guam’s wartime suffering and sacrifice.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero added, "It is my honor to stand up here to proclaim or to offer this proclamation...commemorating June 28 as War Survivor Remembrance Day." And Lieutenant Joshua Tenorio said, "As whereas today with deep reverence and respect, we honor all of Guam's World War II survivors those still with us today all those who have gone before us, and all whose shoulders we have stood on to continue building the island that we are proud to call home today."

This year’s War Survivor Remembrance Day also signals the start of a powerful month of memorials marking Guam’s 81st liberation, with ceremonies across the island, from Tinta and Faha to Sumai, Fena and Asan. 

"I call upon the people of Guam," the governor continued, "to reflect on the sacrifices and strength of all those who lived through WWII and to reflect on the legacy given to us by the undying determination of the CHamoru people to survive, rebuild and endure."

From north to south, from village to valley, Guam’s tributes will continue through July 19th. And it all begins here, with the survivors — whose stories carry the weight of memory, and the light of hope.

Because liberation isn't just marked by dates — it’s remembered in the hearts of the people. And in Guam, those hearts never forget.