Kagman fire station unveils new name in honor of fallen firefighter

CNMI firefighters have their picture taken after yesterday morning?s unveiling of Kagman Fire Station?s new name?the ?Ernie T. Dela Cruz Fire Station #5??in honor of the late firefighter, Ernie Teigita Dela Cruz. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

“We have not forgotten about you,” acting Department of Public Safety commissioner Thomas M. Manglona told a crowd shortly before yesterday morning’s unveiling of Kagman Fire Station’s new name—the “Ernie T. Dela Cruz Fire Station #5”—in honor of the late firefighter, Ernie Teigita Dela Cruz.
The unveiling of the fire station’s new name marked the exact seventh anniversary of Dela Cruz’s untimely passing on March 12, 2007. Dela Cruz worked as a firefighter III for the DPS Fire Division for more than 17 years until his passing during a physical training exercise at work.

“It’s a very big honor for him and the whole family. It’s such a good timing,” the late firefighter’s wife, Velma DLG. Dela Cruz, told Saipan Tribune at the ceremony. They were married in 1993 and blessed with four children.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos, Rep. Antonio Agulto (Ind-Saipan), the Dela Cruz family, and Fr. Isaac Ayuyu led the fire station’s dedication ceremony, which drew a crowd of community members, government officials, firefighters, and police officers.

Manglona, also the director of DPS’ Fire Division, remembers with fondness his last conversation with Dela Cruz seven years ago when the latter visited his office to share his plans to help the division and the community, only to receive news later of Dela Cruz’s passing.

The governor, for his part, thanked DPS and Fire Division not only for the dedication ceremony in honor of the late Dela Cruz but also for “risking their lives” to provide a safer community.

Agulto, author of the local bill renaming the Kagman fire station that became law, echoed the governor’s statement, honoring and thanking firefighters and other law enforcement officers for serving the public. He also thanked the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. for the ongoing renovation of the fire station in Kagman.

Both Agulto and Manglona said Dela Cruz is the first from the CNMI to be included in 2010 into the U.S. National Fallen Firefighters Monument.

Officials said the late Dela Cruz was “dedicated and committed” to serving the CNMI people and positively impacted those who were fortunate enough to know him. He was actively involved in many civic activities in his community, and volunteered in numerous school and church activities. They said that Dela Cruz’s sudden passing “was a great loss” to the CNMI.

The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation passed in November last year Agulto’s House Local Bill 18-20, renaming the Kagman Fire Station in honor of Dela Cruz. In January this year, the governor signed the local bill into Saipan Local Law 18-8.