THE U.S. Army will be celebrating its 237th birthday over the next few weeks and Army units on Guam will be doing the same thing.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Guam Army National Guard, the U.S. Army Reserve, University of Guam’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Guam Army Retirees Association joined GUNG Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino, Gov. Eddie Calvo and Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio for a proclamation signing of the event. Sens. Aline Yamashita and Sam Mabini were also present.
Calvo commended the military branch and touched on the role the U.S. Army played during the liberation of the island during World War II.
“Some people always think that it was just the Marines who liberated Guam. But it was also the Army that was a major force that took those beaches,” the governor said, adding there were soldiers of the Army National Guard who also liberated Guam and gave the island its freedom.
Lt. Col. Ron Delfin read the proclamation which highlighted the history of the U.S. Army.
“Two hundred and thirty-seven years ago, the first defenders of freedom joined forces against the tyranny of oppression of a formidable adversary. Although they marched into battle against extreme odds, their belief in the cause of liberty and justice helped them ensure freedom would prevail. Through their victory, they became America’s Army, the strength of the nation,” Delfin said.
Speaking on behalf of the Guam Army National Guard, Col. Darren Cruz reflected on the significance of the branch: “While ours is to practice democracy, the Army is more to defend it. It’s because of the democracy that we live in that our Army and our military became the strongest,” he said.
For his part, Paulino touched on the Army’s mission which is to deter an aggressor from attacking this nation “and if attacked, we fight and win the nation’s wars.”
“That’s what we do. When we’re not fighting, we’re training so we never get caught off guard,” he said.
