Four wreath-laying ceremonies scheduled for Memorial Day 2022

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG has scheduled 4 early morning wreath ceremonies to commemorate Memorial Day 2022.

At 5:30a.m. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga will lay a wreath at the Satala Cemetery before boarding a police patrol boat to cast a wreath into the ocean just past the mouth of Pago Pago harbor in remembrance of those who were lost at sea.

The third wreath will be laid at the tramway monument in honor of the servicemen killed there when their plane crashed into the beach-wing of the Rainmaker hotel during a parachute jump in 1980.

Finally at around 7:30a.m. a wreath will be laid at the Veterans Memorial Monument in Tafuna.

Speaking prior to the ceremonies, Gov. Lemanu said in his May 23 memorandum declaring Monday, May 30, Memorial Day in the territory, “Memorial Day is a time to commemorate the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great nation,” said Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga “I encourage you all to take time this weekend to honor the memory of our fallen heroes who selflessly laid down their lives to protect our freedom,” he said. “Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.”

Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day — formerly known as Decoration Day — commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service. Extended to a three-day weekend, it is a federal and local holiday for most of the nation’s workers. It is also the official start of the summer vacation season.

National observance of Memorial Day is marked by the U.S. President placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial Day in American Samoa marks the day our community remembers all our loved ones who have passed on, and the Memorial Day weekend activities include cleaning, painting and decorating gravesites island-wide. This morning, flowers — fresh and plastic — along with other decorations adorn the island’s graves.

In honor of Memorial Day 2022 Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement:

 “God bless the memories of the Service Members who answered the country’s call, and gave their lives for others. On Memorial Day, we focus on honoring the legacy of freedom we enjoy because of those who gave all throughout the nation’s history. Only Memorial Day is specifically devoted to these heroes and patriots.

“On other important holidays, we honor all our military and veterans for their willingness to serve and sacrifice. Each one, in joining our all-volunteer Armed Forces, takes on the possibility of making those same sacrifices that we honor on Memorial Day.

“American Samoa has a special tradition of military service and many of our people belong to military families. Thank you to each of our service members, veterans, and military families, as we enjoy the blessings of freedom on this weekend,” Amata concluded.

With Monday a holiday, all government offices will be closed and normal activities will be suspended. Employees not required to perform essential services shall be excused from their duties, according to the governor.

Many of the businesses will also be closed on Monday — such as the two local financial institutions and the US Post Office — along with other local federal offices, as well as private businesses like construction and  freight & cargo offices.

Of note, StarKist Samoa cannery, which was slated to be closed for the holiday, announced Thursday afternoon that it would be working on Monday — Memorial Day.

In honor of Memorial Day, the Samoa News office are closed and there is no print edition today.