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Apatang asks military to join LibDay parade
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Posted on Mar 29 2016
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang is asking the Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs Office to help them in securing a commitment from the military to join the Liberation Day parade this year. Saipan is celebrating the 71st commemoration of the island’s liberation under Japanese rule during World War II.
Apatang made the request to Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs Office executive director Gregorio Sablan Jr.
Apatang, who also served in the US Armed Forces, said Sablan would help them in inviting the military to be part of the parade on July 4, a Monday. He added that there are already 17 soldiers in the CNMI who have committed to march in the Liberation Day parade.
“It would be nice if the Guam National Guard marching band could join the parade since we are also promoting to have our own National Guard. And some of our own are also serving in the Guam National Guard,” said Apatang.
They are also waiting for the approval from high-ranking U.S. military officials to allow them to have some equipment to be used for the parade.
“We are still ongoing with the preparations for the Liberation Day festival. There are still a lot of things needed to be done,” added Apatang.
The Liberation Day committee and the Saipan Mayor’s Office are still trying to secure lowboys from construction companies that will be used for floats in the parade.
Skywalker Communications Group is working on the entertainment side of the Liberation Day Festival where they are preparing the line up and schedule of performers for the month-long celebration.
The committee is also suggesting that the carnival grounds for the 2016 Liberation Day be open until 10m on weekdays and 11pm every weekends.
The carnival is set to open on June 10 where the committee has also opened up the concession of operating carnival rides to any group or individual. The committee, at first, decided to scrap the carnival rides.
The 2016 Liberation Day has “Our Islands, Our Heritage” as its slogan.
