Remembering War Heroes on Memorial Day
United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson urged both Americans and Filipinos to honor the fallen war heroes by upholding the values they sacrificed their lives for. During the Memorial Day ceremony held at the Manila American Cemetery on Sunday, May 25, she paid tribute to those who fought side by side in the campaign to liberate the Philippines.
This year’s Memorial Day marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ambassador Carlson highlighted the shared history of Americans and Filipinos who fought together across the country to restore freedom and push back tyranny. “Eight decades ago, Americans and Filipinos fought side-by-side across this country in a campaign to liberate the Philippines, restore freedom, and push back tyranny. Though they prevailed, many never returned home. Many rest here, and today, we honor them,” she said.
The Legacy of Courage and Unity
She recalled the darkest days of the war when soldiers from both nations endured hunger, captivity, and fierce battles from Bataan to Leyte and from Luzon’s jungles to Manila’s heart. Despite unimaginable hardships, their joint resistance led to liberation and hope. “In the darkest hours of the Second World War, Americans and Filipinos fought together – from Bataan to Leyte, from the jungles of Luzon to the heart of Manila. They endured unimaginable hardships: hunger, captivity, and bitter combat – but together, they resisted. Together, they liberated. Together, they gave hope by defeating tyranny,” the ambassador added.
Renewing Commitment to Shared Values
Ambassador Carlson called on both nations to renew their dedication to the principles the heroes stood for. She encouraged everyone to remember the sacrifices made for freedom and to live by the values of liberty, democracy, and peace. “As we stand among these white marble markers, let us remember the fallen and renew our commitment to the ideals they served – duty, honor, country, and the unbreakable bond between the American and Filipino people,” she said.
She further emphasized, “Let us remember them in silence or ceremony but also in how we live – in how we honor their legacy by upholding the values they died for: liberty, democracy, and peace.” She concluded by reminding everyone of the high price paid for freedom, both in the Philippines and around the world. “And may we never forget the price they paid – here on these islands and across the world – so that others might live free.”
Enduring Alliance Between the United States and the Philippines
The ambassador noted that the sacrifices made during the war continue to resonate today. “These sacrifices are not confined to the past; they echo in every flag raised, in every liberty defended, and in every act of unity between our two nations,” she said. She underlined that the alliance forged in war remains strong in times of peace. “As we face the uncertainties of our modern world, we are reminded on this solemn day that our strength comes from the character of those willing to give everything in the name of something greater.”
The Manila American Cemetery serves as the final resting place for more than 17,000 service members, with over 36,000 more listed on the walls of the missing. Their names etched in stone symbolize the foundation of the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines.
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