Guam marks 82nd Liberation Day under the shadow of Super Typhoon Bavi

July 21 marked Guam’s 82nd Liberation Day. Liberation Day is a very busy and important day for Guam, as people gather to attend the Liberation Day Parade. 

Guam celebrates Liberation Day to commemorate the invasion of United States military troops, which took place on July 21, 1944. The invasion ended Japanese occupation of the region, which had begun in 1941.

Many lives were lost during World War 2. Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces conducted aerial bombings on Guam. On December 10, 1941, Japan landed around 400 troops at Dungcas Beach, north of Agana. They quickly defeated the Insular Force Guard in Agana. Despite resistance before the 1944 invasion, Guam fell to Japan. 

Captain George J. McMillan, the governor of Guam, surrendered Guam as he felt “the situation was simply hopeless.” He feared that the 20,000 Guamanians, all American nationals, would suffer if they continued to defend themselves. Nonetheless, in two days of bombing and fighting, 19 men were killed and 42 wounded. This includes four Marines killed and twelve Marines wounded.

After 31 months of Japanese control, the US returned and liberated the land. However, many lives were lost, and people suffered during the battles on Guam. Much was created to honor that day, such as the War in the Pacific National Historic Park, established in 1978, which sets out to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those participating in the Pacific Theater during World War 2. Another example includes Liberation Day, which Guam celebrates annually.

“Like last year, everyone’s busy,” said Piti Mayor Jesse Alig of the annual Liberation Day Parade during a council meeting in early March.

The parade was set to begin at 9 am. The year’s theme was “Para I Onra, Para I Gloria” (“For Honor, For Glory”). It serves as a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who endured hardship in World War 2 and fought to restore freedom to Guam.

PBS Guam partnered with the government of Guam, the Mayor’s Council of Guam, and the Guam Visitors Bureau. They planned to present a live broadcast of the parade honoring the patriotism, resilience, and unity of the CHamoru people.

However, this year, Guam was hit with Super Typhoon Bavi. Bavi was a category five super typhoon with winds that could reach 180 mph and gusts of 215 mph. According to meteorologist Edwin Montivila with NBC News, Bavi posed an “imminent danger to life.” 

Guam continues to recover from Super Typhoon Bavi. As debris can still be seen in roadways and recovery efforts continue across Guam, village leaders explain their top priority is to help citizens. 

According to Kuam News, “village mayors say their focus in the coming weeks must remain on helping constituents get back on their feet.”

At the Mayors Council of Guam (MCOG) meeting, mayors unanimously agreed that they do not have the resources to prepare their Liberation Day Parade floats or organize this year’s site memorials. MCOG president Mayor Jesse Alig officially announced that the 82nd Liberation Day Parade has been cancelled. This is reminiscent of a decision made in 2023, when Typhoon Mawar also forced the cancellation of the parade.

“We need to come back to the table and talk about our memorials, the villages, and how we wish to proceed,” Mayor Alig said.

Nevertheless, Guam has still hosted a variety of events to honor Liberation Day. One of these events is a wagon parade at Asan Beach. It occurred from 3 pm to 6 pm on July 21. Additionally, the Guam Visitors Bureau hosted a Tumon Night Market. It consisted of live mainstage music and local Guam food. Along with local food vendors, artisans, family-friendly activities, and cultural entertainment, Guam will also celebrate with two fireworks displays.

Guam’s Liberation Day remains an important event. It honors the sacrifice that US military forces and Guamanians made during World War 2 and for their island’s liberation. Liberation Day reminds us of that bravery. Even though Guam has suffered from a Super Typhoon, they are still finding a way to celebrate their liberation. 

Hagat Mayor Kevin Susuico proposed that village communities could gather for one unified memorial. Instead of returning funds, they hope to use those resources to fund a United Memorial. In spite of recent challenges, Guam remains committed to celebrating and honoring Liberation Day.