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Japanese group hosts memorial blessing for fallen soldiers
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Posted on Jul 05 2019
A Japanese group of monks and priests will be hosting a memorial blessing for the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Saipan. The blessing will be at the Aqua Resort Club parking area tomorrow at 10am.
This will be the fourth ceremony held in commemoration of the fallen soldiers.
The parking area served as a burial ground of American and Japanese soldiers,.
According to Yukari Akatsuka of Kuentai-USA, 10 religious leaders, consisting of monks and priests from Japan and Bishop Ryan Jimenez will be attending the event. Japanese Consul Ono Kazuhiko, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, and many community leaders will also be in attendance.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian.
Kuentai-USA is a non-profit organization that locates the remains of fallen U.S. soldiers. Their mission is “to repatriate as many, and as quickly as possible before it gets too late.”
In 2011, Kuentai-NPO, the Japanese organization, found the remains of a U.S. Army soldier on Saipan, while digging up the burial ground.
For more information about the memorial, contact (671) 688-3691.
