Political Quotes

“I rise today with profound respect to commemorate the life and legacy of Irene Perez Ploke Sgambelluri, a CHamoru daughter of Guam, a survivor of World War II, and a tireless advocate for justice. At just 10 years old, Irene was eating breakfast with her family when the skies above Guam roared with warplanes. Her father, a U.S. Navy pharmacist, surrendered himself to protect his family, spending years in a Japanese POW camp. Irene, her mother, and her siblings endured displacement, hunger, forced labor, and cruel treatment under occupation. She gave up her bed so that her grandparents could rest. She helped forage for food, and bore the weight of survival with quiet strength. At age 13, she witnessed the return of American forces and trekked through mountains and devastation to seek safety, but her story didn't end there. Ms. Irene transformed her pain into purpose. She spoke at schools, ceremonies, and even laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, becoming the first civilian to do so, in honor of Guam's liberation. Her advocacy helped to secure war reparations for CHamoru survivors, and her home phone became a lifeline for those who were seeking help. Her grandchildren called her 'the bionic woman,' a fitting tribute to a woman who defied cancer, embraced technology, and danced through life with grace and grit. Her legacy is etched not only in the history books but in the hearts of her family and the people of Guam.”