World War II survivors attend first Inalahan memorial

Eighty-seven-year-old Vicente Meno and his wife, 82-year-old Carmen Meno, both proud residents of Inalahan are World War II survivors.

Although the Japanese occupation happened more than seven decades ago, the couple recalled the hardships leading up to the island's liberation.

"Yeah we stay at the mountain In fact they're trying to blow us up. But there is a marine from the lake coming down," Vicente Meno said. "Maybe I don't know if they informed them there's a cover-up coming down at the water on the lake by the way. What was going on through your mind when this was happening? I just put my mind up to God. That's the best I got."

His wife also shared what she had experienced.

"When the Americans and Japanese come, they start running up the hill," Carmen Meno said. "Later on they moved us down to Merizo because it's more safe for us because of the military ship. I said oh boy. My dad said follow me that night. He told us to follow him to come back again to our ranch. You know we don't do it."

A few wreaths were laid to remember and honor those who suffered, died, and survived World War II, at the Bear rock area in Inalahan.

After being reached out to by the Manneggon Foundation several months ago to do a ceremony, Mayor Anthony Chargualaf of Inalahan, said he was ecstatic because this was the first commemoration to be held in the village.

"I was excited yes because absolutely this is the very first time of recognition of our manamko's have ever been done," he said. "Ultimately we hope to build a monument here to honor and reflect those who like I said died, suffered and, survived the war. Well, it's practically been about 80 years since these atrocities occurred here on Guam. As you can see in the chairs here there's not a lot of war survivors that are currently surviving, a lot of them are long gone. At least I have captured a few here and let them know that we do honor them and they'll never be forgotten."

War survivors, island residents, prominent island leaders, and Consul-General of Japan Toshiaki Kobayashi gathered in the beautiful southern village to not only lay wreaths but also to release over 50 biodegradable helium-filled doves which represent peace.

"And what it was supposed to resemble that we, we wanted them to understand that they still hold bad memories or very horrific memories of the war we wanted to showcase and allow for them to in an expressive form release the doves allowing for every horrific memory they have to be released and to accept peace forever," Chargualaf said. 

The Menos, who have been married for 62 years, expressed their gratitude for the organization of the commemoration.

"Oh wonderful, wonderful. And I am gonna appreciate whoever does this thing for us because my heart has been beating so much I love," Vicente Meno said. "Oh I feel just like my heart is up there with Jesus Christ. I thought I would never see this situation but now I am with them. I wanna thank the people that organized this."

"We're so happy," Carmen Meno said.