by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - As we get closer to the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Guam several memorial ceremonies are being held across the island. "The people that we honor and the lives that we honor today have given of their greatest sacrifice the ultimate sacrifice that we believe in the giving of the lives we pray for greater peace in our hearts and in the world," announced a color guard detail.

In the village of Merizo last night a special memorial ceremony was held outside the San Dimas Catholic Church to honor the victims of the Tinta and Faha massacres. Nearly 50 men and women were killed during the Japanese occupation in Merizo. Japanese soldiers forced them into caves and threw hand grenades inside, killing everyone inside.

Merizo mayor Ernest Chargualaf said to those in attendance we forgive but we will never forget what happened. "All the hurting have healed but the scars are still visible but we can never forget and for the families that are here. Less we forget.. if we forget all those deaths would have been in vain so please reach out to those families so they can continue the tradition of honoring those who perished the ones that we are honoring today," he said.

The Japanese Consul General was also present at last night's ceremony expressing his condolences to families.