Political Quotes

“today is July 21, 1997, and it represents the 53d anniversary of the liberation of Guam, the landing of American marines and soldiers which occurred on this day some 53 years ago. On that day a number of the Third Marine Division landed and the First Marine Provisional Brigade landed on the beaches of Asan and Agat, and the 77th Infantry, also playing a supportive role, landed on the beach of Agat, and therefore followed the battle for Guam in which over approximately 15,000 Japanese were killed, some 1,500 Americans were killed, and the island was finally declared secure on August 10, 1944. As we take time in this special order and on this particular day, which is very special for the people of Guam and by far the largest holiday in our annual calendar, I want to draw attention to a couple of issues. One, of course, is to pay the highest tribute and the highest honor to the men in American uniforms, the heroic marines and the heroic sailors and soldiers who worked hard and who suffered tremendous deprivations and who risked their lives and many of whom paid the supreme sacrifice to liberate the people of Guam from Japanese occupation.”