Mr. Speaker, today I am re-introducing the American Memorial Park Annex in Tinian Act at the request of Senators Jude U. Hofschneider and Francisco Cruz, and many of the people of Tinian, one of the…
Mr. Speaker, today I am re-introducing the American Memorial Park Annex in Tinian Act at the request of Senators Jude U. Hofschneider and Francisco Cruz, and many of the people of Tinian, one of the Northern Mariana Islands I represent.
The bill, which I also introduced late in the last Congress, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, to establish an annex of the American Memorial Park, located on the island of Saipan, on the adjacent island of Tinian.
Tinian is only 39 square miles in area. But the island played an outsize role in ending World War II.
While a military lease of two-thirds of Tinian precludes any set- aside of the historical land on Tinian, creating an annex of the American Memorial Park, a repository for artifacts to be displayed, and a locus for the interest of visitors to Tinian and locals alike, would be appropriate.
I am submitting for the record the letter of request from Senators Hofschneider and Cruz. I am also submitting NMI Senate Resolution No. 17-37 that supports the establishment of annex. The Resolution refers to H.R. 6380, the bill number from the 111th Congress. But the language of today's bill is essentially the same as H.R. 6380.
I ask that my colleagues support the American Memorial Park Annex in Tinian Act.
Northern Marianas
Commonwealth Legislature,
Saipan, MP, March 14, 2011.
Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
Delegate, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman: I am writing to request your
reintroduction of legislation authorizing the Secretary of
the Interior to establish an annex of the American Memorial
Park in Saipan, on the Island of Tinian.
The North Field on Tinian has been designated as one of the
most important World War II (WWII) sites in the Pacific. The
North Field was used as the launching point for the dropping
of two atomic bombs on Japan during WWII, in addition to the
strategic bombing of Japan. Many historians believe use of
the Atomic bomb ended America's war with the Japanese
expeditiously, saving the lives hundreds of thousands, if not
millions of lives had the U.S. naval and ground forces
invaded Japan.
On June 18, 2009, I wrote you regarding adding Tinian's
North Field to the national park system. However, as I stated
in that letter, the U.S. military leases approximately two
thirds of Tinian, and their training needs preclude
inclusion. On December 23, 2009, the National Park Service
suggested several options to recognize the North Field such
as brochures, an interpretive film and providing interpretive
tours on Saipan. While these suggestions are a good start,
the people of Tinian feel a permanent memorial, the Tinian
Annex of the American Memorial Park, will appropriately
recognize the historic role of Tinian in WWII.
The Tinian Delegation of the Commonwealth Legislature,
Senator Cruz and me, and the Mayor and Municipal Council of
Tinian and Aguiguan humbly encourage you to assist us with
this legislation to obtain the Tinian Annex to the American
Memorial Park. Such a memorial appropriately recognizes the
historic role of Tinian in WWII.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
Jude U. Hofschneider,
Senator, CNMI Legislature.
Francisco Q. Cruz,
Senator, CNMI Legislature.
