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9th Mission Support Command honors veterans
Brig. Gen. John Cardwell, commanding general for the 9th Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Army Pacific, and Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider present the wreath during Veterans Day commemoration, Nov. 11, at American Memorial Park. (Capt. Brigida Sanchez)
This was the first time a commanding general of the 9th MSC has attended a Veterans Day ceremony on Saipan.
Veterans Day is a day of reflection, remembrance, pride and patriotism. However, this particular ceremony had even deeper relevance for the locals as it coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Saipan, a very important part of the Pacific Campaign of World War II.
Cardwell was joined on this day by CNMI Lt. Gov. Jude Hofschneider.
Describing the historic relationship between Saipan as a Commonwealth of the United States, Hofschneider explained: “It was through the selfless gestures of a helpful country, that we, as a people, were given a sense of renewal along with a spirit of patriotism. This morning we commemorate those patriots who truly went beyond the call to serve their fellow men and women,” Hofschneider said. “We pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in WWI, and we salute the Greatest Generation—the soldiers, airmen, Marines and their local scouts who helped them secure the islands during the war.”
During his speech Hofschneider talked about the history of the island’s relationship with the United States and how a single act has inspired generations of service among the people of Saipan. He went on to honor those who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and those who most recently defended the nation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cardwell, a Tennessee native from a small, tight-knit community and a veteran himself, related strongly to the sense of community, encouraging attendees to continue to “truly honor our veterans by following the three ‘Rs’: remember, respond and resolve.”
He encouraged all attendees, from seniors to children, to be living memorials to our veterans.
“Resolve not to waste a single day of the freedom we enjoy. For when we resolve to do so, then all the souls of veterans, living and past, can rejoice in knowing that the sacrifices they made yesterday, are still allowing all of us today, to build a better tomorrow,” said Cardwell.
The 9th MSC is most ethnically diverse, geographically dispersed command in the U.S. Army Reserve, crossing seven times zones, two states, two territories, and a commonwealth. It has units in located in the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, Saipan, Alaska, American Samoa, Japan and Korea. (Hawaii Army Weekly)
