[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E600-E601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING WAR SURVIVOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES C. MOYLAN

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2025

  Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great honor to recognize 
War Survivor Remembrance Day--a day that commemorates the sacrifices of 
those before us and the strength of those still with us from Guam's 
Greatest Generation. The generation that survived the atrocities of the 
Japanese occupation during World War II.
  From 1941 to 1944, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese 
soldiers occupied Guam and forced our ancestors to endure hardship and 
unspeakable violence that has left scars long after the war. Many were 
uprooted from their homes, suffered the loss of loved ones, and were 
coerced into manual labor without food or medical care to prepare our 
island against an invasion.
  Our people were forced into camps--where resources were scarce and 
many lives ended in starvation or massacre, and where they were beaten 
for any signs of disloyalty, including the practice of our culture. And 
yet, in the face of this darkness, it was our people's quiet resistance 
and sense of community that kept some alive.
  For us in Guam, this event not only honors the sacrifices of our 
ancestors but reminds us of the power of the CHamoru people. Today, we 
honor our Greatest Generation and thank them. Without their 
perseverance through three years of relentless tragedy, we would not be 
here.
  I thank our Greatest Generation for holding on for the freedom of 
tomorrow. I thank them for persevering and rebuilding our community on 
the foundation of family and cultural virtues. Words will never fully 
capture the severity and intensity of your experience, but know our 
gratitude is immense.
  As we celebrate our War Survivors from World War II, let us not dwell 
only on the horrors of war, but rather highlight the unwavering spirit 
and strength of the generation that carried our people through a truly 
difficult time. May this inspire future generations to do the same in 
the face of unspeakable hardship.

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