Peace Memorials

Korean Peace Memorial, Saipan at the base of Suicide Cliff

"For Our Friends Fallen and Vanished Here-

I ask you, Saipan, a lonely island in the vast ocean, the Pacific. Do you ever remember those who Breathed their last breaths so tragically here, those who, longing for their dear ones living somewhere in the mountainous Korean Peninsula, died so miserably here long, long ago. The war was fierce and terrible and living was hard and unbearable. We the living erect here a small stone monument to comfort your still bleeding hearts. Do come and stay with us here to share our love that is eternal. "

March 1, 2006

"In memory of the fallen souls of tragic history.

We pledge to defend our people

From the same tragedy

Through our unconquerable air power.

May your noble spirits rest in peace."

April 24, 2013

"The Monument Memorializing Korean Patriots

Like Petals falling in the rain of bullets

Like woods that burned to death

Here young people died pathetically in great number

To their lasting regret

Here, from Korea, the touch of Asia, The Land of Morning Calm,

How many people, once deprived of their father-land,

Were drawn never to return!

The souls who fell asleep with their bitter grief!

You left behind agony piercing our hearts.

Passers-by!

I ask you: how can we calm their everlasting homesickness,

How can we arrange for them to meet their parents again,

How can we replace their lives!

Realizing the emptiness and vanity of war,

Breaking down the thick and high barriers of hatred,

And making the universe as one sweet home,

Is the only way for all people to live their lives happily.

Never forgetting the past for tomorrow's sake,

And praying for peace in our life,

Let's pray for the souls of the dead."

Japanese Peace memorial-Saipan at the base of Suicide Cliff

" Memorial Monument of the War Dead

In the Mid Pacific

In Memory of all those who sacrificed their

Lives in the Islands of the seas of the mid

Pacific During World War II and in dedication

To World Peace"

March 25, 1974

Memorial Planting/Many trees had signs similar to this one from students.

Okinawa Peace Memorial

(Not sure why the flags weren't up)

Last Command Post-Saipan

On Monday, Chris and I had a few minutes to visit the "Last Command Post".

This command post is located at the bottom of Suicide Cliff (Saipan).

Here you can see Chris at the top of the stairs, Behind that giant rock is the one room command post.

This is the side of the command post.

Inside the command post.

The back staircase.

A bunker along the trail.

Check out the end of the barrel.

A torpedo.

A tank.

Here at this site there are 3 Peace Memorials, Okinawa, Korean, and Japanese. I will post more pictures of those in a day or two.

Blow hole

What is a "blow hole"? It is a rare geological occurrence. According to geography-site.co.uk a blow hole is formed when a joint between a sea cave and the land surface above the cave become enlarged and water flows into the cave, air is expelled through the pipe like joint, sometimes producing an impressive blast of air or spray which appears to emanate from the ground.

While a blow hole is rare. Tinian has 2. I tried to research how many blow holes there are in the world, I could not get an exact number. Chris was told 8. But I could not verify that number.

Next to  the blow hole is a large area fenced off, which still contains active mines. We ran across a few areas like this on the island.

House of Taga

Latte  stones are not found anywhere else in the world, other than the CNMI. A latte stone is a vertical pillar and a hemispheric cap stone. There are 3 schools of thought concerning what the latte stones where used for, a dwelling  theory, a tomb theory and a garden theory. According to the information I read, most here believe the dwelling theory.

According to legend,  Taga was born to the Maga 'Lahl of Ritidian of Guam.  Taga was a giant. He got in a fight with his father and lost the fight, so he moved to Rota. He challenged the leaders there to a competition and won. He took a Chommorita as a wife and they had a daughter. At some point they moved to Tinian, and they had a son.

 

He started construction on his home, which consisted of 12 latte stones and a wooden house on top of the stones.

The legend continues that when the son of Taga turn 5 years old, Taga gave him a ayuyu (coconut crab) as a gift. Taga's son took the crab for a walk and it got away from him and hid under a tree. The son went to Taga and asked him to shake the tree so he could get his crab. Taga refused explaining that the coconuts were not yet ripe. Tags's son was angry and returned to the tree and shook it until it fell over. As he pulled the crab from the hole Taga's son found fresh water. He gave the well to his sister to bathe.

Realizing his son's strength and fearing he would rebel against him as he had his own father, Taga smothered his son as he slept. Taga's daughter saw this and ran and hid deep in the forest. By the time that girl returned to her mother, she was too weak and she died. This caused Taga's wife so much grief she too died. This caused much shame for Taga.

I will share more "historical facts" about Taga in a later post.

 

The Latte stone is a symbol used in many places here in the CNMI.

 

*History and legend I shared was from the information board at the site of "House of Taga".