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U.S. Cruise Ship “Sky Princess” to make historic visit
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Posted on Oct 06 2000
The U.S. cruise ship Sky Princess is making its maiden voyage to Saipan and will be docking at Charlie Dock on Oct. 10. Most of the 1,200 passengers will spend the day sight-seeing and shopping, but for the 160 or so veterans on board the day will be packed with ceremony and special tours to World War II sites.
Jerry Facey, former co-chair of the Committte for the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of World War II, has reactivated the committee to assure a memorable visit for the veterans. “This is the largest group of veterans to visit the island, even larger than the group that returned in 1994,” Mr. Facey says.
For weeks representatives from the Governor’s Office, Marianas Visitors Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Mayor’s Office, the Veterans Affairs Office, the Historic Preservation Office, the Department of Public Works, the Division of Public Lands, the Department of Public Safety and National Park Service have been planning an island welcome.
The veterans will be met at the dock and transported in WWII-vintage vehicles to American Memorial Park for a Memorial Service at 9 am. Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, Mayor Jose C. Sablan and representatives of the veterans will speak briefly, and the visiting WWII veterans will lay a wreath in memory of their lost comrades. A personalized certificate will be given to each of the veterans.
The public is invited to attend the 9 am service at American Memorial Park on Oct. 10 and show the visitors that a grateful island remembers the sacrifice so many made in the name of freedom.
