Thoughts on the candlelight vigil

I write this in the early morning hours after the candlelight vigil for our fallen Echo Company soldiers. The thoughts and emotions that I experienced in the last 24 hours keep me from sleeping. I know that the same must be true for many others.

On the evening of Nov. 8 we learned that the bodies of Staff Sergeant Wilgene Lieto and Corporal Derence Jack would be returning to Saipan the following evening. It was around 8pm that the suggestion was made for the Veterans of Foreign Wars to sponsor a candlelight vigil for their arrival. My first thought was whether 24 hours would be enough time to organize sufficient community support. I was afraid that a small showing might be worse than no showing at all. I consulted with several VFW Saipan Post 3457 members and the consensus was that we should do it.

At 9pm the idea was set in motion by email to 80 VFW members. By midnight over 500 emails had been sent. In the morning on Nov. 9, the local radio stations were contacted and they agreed to air announcements throughout the day. KMCV made it a lead story. By noon the VFW had sent over 1,000 e-mails and faxes. I can only imagine how many other people sent e-mails and made phone calls. To all of you I give sincere thanks.

I want to give special thanks to my boss, Dr. Joaquin Tenorio, and my coworkers at the Department of Labor. When I told them about the vigil they gave 100-percent support. During their breaks and lunch many volunteered to prepare plastic cups to use as wind screens for candles. I know they also helped spread the word. It was great to see them at the vigil. Many of my coworkers are related to the fallen soldiers and many have family members of their own now serving in harm’s way. I really can’t say enough about how their encouragement helped bring about the final result.

Later in the afternoon I began receiving back copies of my original e-mails from other people spreading the word. I also started receiving reports that other groups were mobilizing in support of the vigil. At that point I knew it was going to be a success. I just had no idea how big it would be.

Around 8pm, as I drove down Tun Herman Pan Road, my heart was pounding. There were hundreds of cars lining the road. There had to be at least 1,000 people there already. The VFW members, their families and supporters assembled near the Mobil tanks. Our members and volunteers distributed candles and met with many who came to pay their respects. The feeling of community was overwhelming.

Over the next couple of hours the cars just kept coming. Unofficial estimates are that 6,000 people attended the vigil. Several people commented that they had never seen anything like it. I believe them. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.

As the motorcade left the airport the VFW presented the U.S. and CNMI flags. Our members came to attention and presented their salute in tribute. It was a moment of great emotion. Tears were shed as the bodies passed. We were all touched as the families expressed their gratitude from the passing cars.

I know that I speak for all of our VFW members when I say that we are honored to have been able to sponsor this community event. We are thankful to everyone who helped make it a success.

I would like to ask everyone who came, or wanted to come but couldn’t, to send me an email (cnmilaw@yahoo.com). If you can include a brief message to the families I will put them together and present them on your behalf.

In closing I would like to say,

God bless the families of the fallen and give them strength in the knowledge that the entire community stands with them.

God bless all of our active duty servicemen and women and their families. We pray for their safe return.

God bless America.

Barry Hirshbein
Commander
VFW Saipan Post 3457