Groundbreaking held for new Guam Museum

by Jolene Toves

Guam - After two decades, ground was finally broken in the heart of the island's capitol on a new museum. Governor Eddie Calvo, First Lady Christine Calvo, Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz, Speaker Judy Won Pat, Hagatna Mayor John Cruz, Archbishop Anthony Apuran, Margaret Palomo and members from GVB, GEDA, and Chamorro Affairs put their shovels to the dirt in the ceremonial ground breaking for the construction of the Guam Museum in Hagatna.

Plans to build the museum downtown raised some controversy, that which the governor addressed. "I felt it important that that facility the Guam Chamorro and Education Facility be built in the heart of Hagatna, the capitol of our island," he said.

It's a decision Calvo takes full credit for making. "I believe that if we put this facility here in the heart of Hagatna it would be the spark that would re-energize our capitol city to not only get it back to what it was but even to its greatest heights," he said. He's a firm believer that re-energizing the capitol will re-energize Guam and our people economically, but more importantly foster and stimulate a resurgence in our identity our culture. "Looking back at our history, knowing our history - and if you know our history then it makes it very clear on where you want to go and what you want to ," he explained.

Chairman of the Guam Visitors Bureau Mark Baldyga said, "Trough the construction of our museum we can finally ask the question not what can Guam learn from the rest of the world, but what the world will learn from Guam."

Today's groundbreaking not only signifies the start of construction for the Guam Museum but the path to sharing our islands vibrant history and culture.

The $27 million Guam Museum project is expected to be completed by 2014.

During today's groundbreaking ceremony Governor Calvo offered a moment of silence in honor of former Guam Museum director Tony Palomo and former UOG professor or Micronesia studies Dr. Dirk Ballendorf, who both died this week.