Families camp out for Fourth of July Parade

Families regard the annual Liberation Day festivities not only as an occasion to commemorate the time when Camp Susupe was set free after the war but also as an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones.

Notwithstanding yesterday’s rainfall, several families set up tents as early as Sunday morning to camp out in preparation for the much-anticipated Fourth of July Parade which kicks off at about 10am today.

Utz Billy of Gualo said in an interview that they put up their tent yesterday on the lot next to the Saipan Tribune office.

“We always watch the parade but this will be the first time that we’re camping out so we can get a good spot where we will watch the parade,” said Billy.

Billy, who was with family members at their tent yesterday, said they own the lot where they set up the tent so they decided as a family to go camp out this year for the parade.

Utz Billy’s father, Richard Billy, said that while Liberation Day is important for the native people of the Commonwealth, it is also a chance for the family to spend quality time together during the long weekend.

“It is very important that we gained our freedom, but we also see it as family time,” said Richard Billy, adding that they brought beers and barbecue for the event.

Utz Billy added, “Whatever the outcome of the parade will be, the most important thing is that our family is together to enjoy the Liberation Day Parade.”

Kagman resident Canice Kapileo said this is the second year that their family camped out for the Fourth of July Parade.

“It was actually the older kids in the family who coordinated this camping. We paid $10 for the use of the lot and another $10 for the use of the pavilion last Thursday,” he said.

While Liberation Day is viewed as a family gathering especially by their younger members, Kapileo noted the need to observe the importance of the occasion.

“Most of the kids these days don’t understand what Liberation Day is and it’s very important that they know their history,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Kapileo said this is the reason why they brought the new generation of their family, including Daniel Suel, Khalia Palacios Castro, and Angel Palacios. “More family members are expected to join us [yesterday and today],” he added.

The annual Liberation Day parade culminates the month-long festivities organized by the Saipan Mayor’s Offie.

The theme for the 2011 Liberation Day celebration is “A Band of Arms Liberating Communities to Freedom, the Island Way.”

This year, four groups are expected to participate in the float competition which will be joined by other organizations that will take part in the parade which will end at the carnival grounds across from Kristo Rai Church.

The community is advised that the northbound lane of Beach Road starting from Quartermaster intersection up to Bank of Guam will be closed to traffic at 7am.