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‘Tinian needs $150K for WWII anniversary’
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Posted on Jul 01 2005
The Tinian local government needs some $150,000 for the holding of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II—an event that organizers prefer to call as “peace celebrations.”
“It’s what we need. For the airfare alone, we would need $100,000,” said Tinian mayor Francisco M. Borja in an interview on Saipan Thursday.
The Tinian-led event aims to bring in both U.S. war veterans and some survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
At least three bomb survivors have their confirmed attendance to the event. They are expected to arrive on July 29 to lead the holding of the “Hibakusha Experience” on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.
Hibakusha Experience is the first-hand retelling of the survivors’ experience during and after the atomic bombing.
It is not known yet how many war veterans are coming to the Tinian event but Tinian authorities said “very interesting” personalities are set to arrive.
This developed as the House leadership introduced last week a House Joint Resolution 14-40 to formally request the governor to appropriate the needed funds to Tinian.
Borja earlier expressed disappointment over the “lack of cooperation” the municipality has received from the Governor’s Office in regards to hosting the 60th anniversary events scheduled for Aug. 2 and 10.
Borja said Tinian had requested for the funding since July 2004.
Last year, the central government spent a significant amount for the holding of the 60th anniversary of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian, which was highlighted by the visit of Enola Gay pilot Paul W. Tibbets and his crew.
Tibbets, who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, launched the plane from Northfield airport on Tinian 61 years ago.
