Memorial honors fallen Guam heroes

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The Guam National Guard is hosting an array of events this week honoring the men and women that serve in the National Guard. With the theme as remembering our heroes, Captain David Santos says the events include the unveiling of the Fallen Soldiers Memorial.

"We want to remember our sacrifices and don't want to forget their sacrifices; we want to honor them and their families as well for the sacrifice they have made and this is one way of us paying that respect and tribute to them," he explained.

The bronze memorial details a battle cross with a helmet, rifle and boots. Santos says it was the combined effort of the community that made this memorial a reality.  "Everybody from civilians and retirees, Guardsmen and family members all got together and raise money and we were able to put this monument together based on everybody's effort," he continued.

The memorial also includes bronze plaques of the fallen Guam Guardsmen, which states their accomplishments, with the captain adding, "Those four soldiers are Sgt. Greg Fejeran, Sgt. Christopher Fernandez, both soldiers died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Horn of Africa, and you've got Sgt. Brian Leon Guerrero and Sgt. Samson Mora who died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan."

The unveiling that will be done by the families of the fallen soldiers will be held at the Barrigada Readiness Center on July 10 at 10am. Santos says it is their way of thanking these troops as well as others who may have lost loved ones during deployments.  "It is tradition and it is a way for us when we are in country or out in battle and one of our brothers or sisters passed, this is our way of conducting a memorial in our tribute to remember them," he said.

The guard will also be hosting a 5k run and open house of the Barrigada facility this Saturday, as well as a grand opening for its new gas station on July 9.