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Guam - In honor of memorial day a special ceremony was held at the veterans cemetery in Piti this morning. Island leaders and dignitaries layed a wreath in honor of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Memorial day is a day where Americans across the country visit and decorate the grave sites of those who gave their lives in the defense of the nation. On Guam residents from all over the island filled the veterans cemetery in Piti to honor the over 2500 veterans who are buried there. "Memorial day brings several things to mind remembrance tribute thanks honor service sacrifice and freedom.

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Last key word I mentioned freedom is why we're here today,” said Brigadier General John Doucette adding, "Here on Guam we are reminded of the sacrifices made by the Chamorro people throughout the ages and through the resiliency of the Chamorro culture we are able to see how the early warriors of the native Chamoru of Guam knew that fighting for ones culture and for ones home was worth the sacrifice.”

 Governor Eddie Calvo signed a proclamation in honor of those who gave their lives for their country. "Let our hearts resound with thoughtful prayers of gratitude for the men and women who for more than two centuries have followed through on the oath to protect our nation and citizens at whatever cost,” said Governor Calvo.

 PNC asked some of those in attendance what memorial day meant to them."It's the celebrating of the memories of all the people who served our country and cannot make it back to join us on this day,” said Vietnam veteran Ignacio Babauta. "We help celebrate in memorial of those who had gave their lives for us for the freedom for everything that we do here,” said Fleet Reserve President Harold Kirk. "Memorial day means a lot to me because I was a child during World WarII I was up at manengon concentration camp and there i have learned what suffering is and then what freedom means," said Fleet Services Women's Auxiliary President Joyce Martratt adding, "memorial day really signifies the ultimate sacrifices that all the men and women have given up when they wear the uniform the services uniform and they go out there willingly to support freedom democracy and without them and without being Americans we won't have that liberty today."

 Memorial day was originally known as decoration day when it began in the years following the civil war. Memorial day became an official federal holiday in 1971.