A Memorial Day Tribute to the Fallen of the Mariana Islands and Micronesia
By Luis John Castro
The ocean hushed its voice tonight, The reef waves rolled in soft and slow, As if the sea itself now grieved For those who left these shores long ago.
Beneath the glow of island skies, Where trade winds bend the coconut trees, The church bells ring through jungle hills And drift like prayers upon the breeze.
From Guam’s proud shores to Saipan’s lights, From Palau’s tides to Chuuk’s blue sea, The islands gathered hand in hand To honor those who kept us free.
For freedom here was dearly bought By sons and daughters brave and strong, Who carried island hearts to war Though home had called them all along.
They left behind warm village roads, Fiesta songs and chapel choirs, And marched beneath foreign skies Through smoke and fear and burning fire.
Yet courage lives where islands stand, In humble souls and quiet grace, In every young Micronesian heart Prepared to serve in any place.
The names still echo through the tides, Still whispered low at close of day — SGT Eddie Chen remembered still When sunsets fade and palms still sway.
SSG Wilgene Lieto’s strength Still moves within the ocean air, While Derence Jack lives on In every island mother’s prayer.
SGT Jesse Castro’s memory Still rises with the morning tide, And Marine Adam Emul’s name Lives where the reef and heavens collide.
Saipan’s Leeroy Camacho rests Where stars now crown the endless skies, While PFC John Flores lives In every tear a village cries.
Tinian’s Victor Fontanilla, Luta’s Joe Charfauros too, Their sacrifice became the roots From which our island freedoms grew.
And Navy Seaman Anamarie Camacho, Whose courage still the trade winds tell, Beside Guardsman Brian Leon Guerrero, Whose spirit near these islands dwell.
Julian Manglona’s name Still travels where the seabirds roam, While the Air Force’s Audra Winkfield’s light Still guides the hearts that wait at home.
CPL Dave Santos marches still Through memories time cannot erase, And “Keoki” Sablan’s noble soul Still shines through every island face.
SPC Hanson Mendiola, SPC Joselyn Tara Sablan too, SPC Christopher Del Rosario — The islands speak your names with truth.
LCPL Stephen Litulumar, SPC Franco Taimanao’s eternal flame, SGT Nathan Teregeyo, The ocean still recalls your names.
SPC Dennis Urdaneta stands Within the pride these islands keep, And SGT Thyse Tutiy rests Where the Angels softly sleep.
For here no loss is borne alone, No fallen soul is left apart, Each name becomes the village song Still beating in the islands’ heart.
“All have some, and some gave all,” Those old words drift across the sea, And these small islands gave their best So future generations could be free.
Tonight the candles gently glow Beside the shore at setting sun, While folded flags and silent tears Remind us what these heroes done.
And when tomorrow’s dawn arrives Across the reefs and emerald shore, The Pacific winds will speak their names Forever… evermore.