MRA holds final Okinawa peace memorial

Members of the Micronesia Repatriation Association capped their yearly pilgrimage to the CNMI yesterday with the 50th Okinawa Peace Memorial at the Okinawa Peace Tower in Marpi, which was graced by the presence of Okinawa Gov. Yasuhiro Tamaki himself.

That means yesterday’s event will be the last pilgrimage of the MRA to the CNMI.

In his speech at the memorial, Tamaki expressed gratefulness to the CNMI for the many years that the Commonwealth has supported the memorial service.

“We Okinawans have renewed our determination to pass to the next generation the lessons we gained from the bitter experiences during the past world war. We also want to work toward the building of a peaceful society in which the dignity of all people, regardless of nationality and race, will be respected, with no one left behind,” Tamaki said.

He also wished for the everlasting prosperity of the Commonwealth.

The MRA has been holding the annual pilgrimage to the island for 50 years now, through Pacific Development Inc., to ensure that the people of Okinawa and the people of the Marianas continue to maintain the relationship between them. Many of the Japanese people who lived in the CNMI before World War II trace their ancestry to Okinawa.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, who attended the memorial ceremony, extended his appreciation to MRA and all Okinawans for what they have done throughout the years to honor departed loved ones, and for the Okinawa Peace Tower in Marpi itself that allows the people of both countries to foster a relationship that has lasted more than 50 years.

“I am also personally thankful to Gov. Tamaki that he was able to come…[which is] a great honor for us to have [him] here. Although this is their last year, we hope that the young generation would appreciate the history that we have between two countries, our island Saipan and the CNMI,” Torres said.

Torres also confirmed that arrangements to create sister-city ties between Saipan and Okinawa are in the works.

“We have so much cultural relation with Okinawa. A lot of our fishermen and our farmers back then came from Okinawa. This relationship is something that we want to continue and hope that soon, we can have a learning workforce between Okinawa and Saipan,” he said.

For this year’s celebration, MRA invited all the local families who started the event with the Okinawans, said PDI managing director Gordon I. Marciano.

With this year’s ceremony being the last leg for the original Okinawans, there is a plan to establish a new chapter, to establish what was done years back in terms of cultural exchange.

The group is going to Tinian today to meet with the Mayor Edwin Aldan, to share the dream of establishing the sister-city program. The group will also visit the Marianas Visitors Authority, meet with Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang on Thursday, then with the Japan Council of the CNMI.