Troops-to-Teachers honored

Earlier Wednesday morning at least 17 members of the CNMI Troops-to-Teachers program were honored at the Legislature. Rep. Cinta Kaipat led the presentation. There were men and women that received the House Resolution plaques and you could see from their eyes the excitement and the exhilaration they felt when each of them was called to receive the plaque.

Most of them are still waiting for call of duty but all of them are taking college courses right now to be teachers in the future. The Public School System embraced them to work as teacher aides. Most of these soldiers came from deployment in Iraq.

These soldiers according to their director Geri Willis truly deserved the accolades from the CNMI Legislature.

Kudos to the program that cares.

The Reveler

Photo Essay: The Return. The Heartache.

Lee Roy Camacho's remains arrived Friday afternoon and the seemed scorching hot afternoon froze the rest of the day especially inside the reception hall of the Saipan airport, where hundreds of family members waited for Lee Roy. It was once again heart-rending and nerve-wracking moment seeing the family of Lee Roy waited silently crying on their seats.

His mom and wife Velma were staring at a blank probably anxious to finally hold once again the body of their loved one. What broke my heart was when body finally reached Saipan onboard a US Airforce 747 plane and the family members dashed outside to get a personal glimpse of the aircraft. They held hands as they watched the plane curbed to the side. The Military plane looked so majestic from afar as it got a washdown from two fire trucks as a ceremony.

When the Military representatives from Guam and Hawaii brought the brown casket draped with the American flag inside the reception hall, the sons of Lee Roy suddenly burst into tears and their mom, Velma, held the boys to her trying to comfort them. It was totally heart breaking. I thought these little boys wouldn't be that emotional because they are so young, but i was mistaken. The three boys lost their father.

Lee Roy's brother Alfred who was in Military suit ushered his mother and Velma to get close to the casket, the mom and Velma just sobbed vehemently and buried their faces onto the casket. The background music rendered by 30-year ukulele player Emi Palican just made it more difficult for all of us to breathe. My heart just melted. This should not have been happening, I thought to myself.

The relatives were given also a chance to join the mom and Velma and hold the casket. One relative fainted and collapsed. It was so devastating to see them.

The price for freedom and democracy. Are the lives of many being lost an advantage to many that survive? Will it always be the case? Ask the family that lost their loved ones due to this.


The Reveler
Photo: Tacder

Laid to rest

Driving through the beauteous Marpi landmark, the overcast weather added to the morose afternoon, i was prepared for another heart-breaking scenes on the island. Indeed my expectations were met when the entourage emerged from afar escorted by the police to the CNMI Veterans Cemetery. The hearse that was carrying the remains of NMI fallen Marine Lance Corporal Adam Quitugua Emul pulled over as seven US Marines from Hawaii waited and pulled the silver casket of Adam draped with the American flag.

Local officials were present. A brief ceremony was held as US and CNMI flags were turned over to Adam's mom and dad, as well as her sister.

When a Marine played taps, the windy afternoon suddenly turned colder as the drizzle of rain didn't faze the hundreds of supporters that witnessed the interment (Feb.13)

The moment that tore everyone's heart was when the mom, dad and sister were ushered for a final goodbye to Adam, the mom and the sister bore their heads into the casket. The mom this time sobbed. The deafening silence was dominated by the heart-rending sobs and cries from the family.

It was time to bring the casket to the grave site. Adam's dad tried to pull his mom away so that the Marines could proceed and carry the casket to the site. Adam's mom refused, crying, screaming "No!"

My heart just melted.

The Reveler
Photos by JH/ST

Saipan son returns home

A tearjerking experience. Gosh. I wish i wasn't there at all. Sobs and anguish pervaded the entire reception hall last Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Francisco C. Ada International Airport.

I know it's hard to post these photos but my intention is to let people know, the right ones and the wrong ones, that this is the price one has to pay for any of our actions.

It was totally heart-rending to see the mother of fallen soldier Adam Quitugua Emul, his dad, and his sisters and brothers. It tore my heart apart when the sister cried embracing the casket with her tears drenching the US flag draped on her brother's casket.

It was devastating.

It's funny that we fight for the world's freedom when we lose our loved ones in exchange for it. The freedom for some is actually not complete.

I was once again uplifted by the spirits of the Commonwealth people when they lined up along the Airport Road, waving their flags. Some NMI soldiers lined up offered a salute to the entourage of the fallen soldier. You people are amazing.

Complete story can be found at http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=65615&cat=1.
also at http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/NEWS01/702110301

The Reveler
Photos by: JH/ST