Wreaths will be laid at the Satala Cemetery, the monument at the tramway in Utulei, in the harbor, at Blunts Point in Gataivai and at the Veterans Memorial in Tafuna during the ASG Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday by Governor Lemanu.
The wreath laying at sea takes place on board the MV Manu’atele with Attorney General Fainuulelei Alailima-Utu laying the wreath, and Rev. Fatu Fetu of the Methodist Church leading the prayer service.
The main Memorial Day service will be held at the Veterans Memorial with a 7:30am start.
Leone High School JROTC will present the colors, Rev. Iese Aasa of the Amanave Congregational Christian Church will lead the prayer service and the choir from his congregation will provide the hymns.
Governor Lemanu is to deliver an address after which he will lead the wreath laying ceremony.
Those on the program to lay wreaths are the American Samoa Veterans Association, Toa o Samoa Golf Association and Fallen Comrades.
Other organizations have been invited to also join the wreath laying.
The DPS and US Army Reserve will perform a gun salute and TAPS before the closing prayer.
The public is invited to joint the ceremony.
Governor Lemanu said Memorial Day is a solemn day of national remembrance dedicated to honoring every patriot who bravely made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard our way of life.
He urges, “Let us unite as a community in gratitude, never forgetting their bravery and selflessness. As we pay tribute to those who have gone before us, let us renew our commitment to honor their memory in our words and actions. Let us strive each day to be worthy of the sacrifices they made and to build a future that is worthy of their legacy.
“On behalf of Lt. Governor Laapui and our families, we extend our deepest gratitude and admiration to our fallen heroes. Their sacrifices merit the utmost acknowledgement and respect from us all. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the families of our fallen heroes, who have endured the ultimate sacrifice alongside their loved ones.
“May we never forget that freedom is not free!”
