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Honoring a fallen hero
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Posted on Nov 02 2006
By Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez
[I]Editor’s Note: the following were the remarks that acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez gave during the signing of House Local Bill 15-33, on Oct. 26, 2006, at the Governor’s Conference Room, renaming a street after Army Specialist Derence W. Jack.[/I]First of all, my sincerest condolences to the family on the recent passing of your mother and grandmother, the dearly departed Carmina Jack. We appreciate your willingness to come and share this time with us today, and we hold the memory of Derence and his mother close as we gather for this occasion.
On Oct. 31, 2005, Army Specialist Derence W. Jack was killed while patrolling an area in Balad, Iraq. In this cowardly bombing attack by insurgent terrorists, Army Specialist Jack and his brother-in-arms Wilgene Lieto did not have the chance to defend themselves.
Derence was 31 years old. He was a member of the US Army Reserves. He was a proud member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, 29th Brigade Combat Team. He died serving the United States in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died representing our home, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and our local communities.
As we have already done this week for Wilgene Lieto, today, a year later, we honor the memory of Derence Jack by naming a local street after him, in recognition of his sacrifice for the nation and for the cause of freedom and democracy in a troubled region.
As acting Governor and as a citizen of the Commonwealth, I would much rather have Corporal Jack alive and well and back in the CNMI, reunited with all of his friends and family members. But he made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country, and I think it is only fitting and proper that we rename Orchid Street in his honor. In this way, we reflect the important values of our community, including the enormous value we place on every one of our soldiers.
I thank the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation for passing this bill and allowing me to sign it into law with the full support of our patriotic local community. Thank you.
