thedrifter
05-25-07, 08:28 AM
Marine Corps funeral
Hawaii troops to help with burial ceremony
By Steve Limtiaco
Pacific Daily News
slimtiaco@guampdn.com
A group of Hawaii-based Marines was scheduled to arrive on Guam last night to help grant retired Marine Capt. Peter C. Siguenza Sr.'s request for a Marine Corps funeral.
Siguenza, the first Chamorro commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, died May 17 at the age of 87.
There are not enough Marines on island to conduct a full military funeral for Siguenza, so the island's 3rd Marine Division Association and Delegate Madeleine Bordallo asked the Marines to send a detail here for tomorrow's funeral.
Scheduled to arrive from Hawaii yesterday were six pallbearers, a bugler and an officer-in-charge.
Also participating in the funeral will be a rifle squad from Guam's Andersen Air Force Base.
"His faithful duty and dedication to the United States of America, the Marine Corps and the island of Guam were admirable and it is only fitting that he be provided one of his last requests, to have a Marine Corps funeral," Bordallo said yesterday.
"(Siguenza) shattered the ridiculous myth that Chamorro sons of Guam were only qualified to serve as men servants in the Navy," retired Marine Gen. Ben Blaz stated in a letter to the Pacific Daily News. "He blazed a trail for others to follow. I did."
Lee Webber, president and publisher of the Pacific Daily News, and a member of the 3rd Marine Division Association, which Siguenza helped start, said Siguenza had a strong interest in community issues.
"We communicated back on forth on various issues," Webber said. "He always had a great sense of bearing on what was right and wrong," and was a great example to local Chamorros.
Marine Corps Drive
It was Siguenza who inspired 3rd Marine Association Vice President John Gerber to march down then "Marine Drive" in 2004 in a successful effort to change the road's name to "Marine Corps Drive."
Gerber said Siguenza was upset that lawmakers did not pass a bill to rename the road, and wanted to protest.
"I saw the look in his face, how disappointed he was, and that's when I decided to do what I did," Gerber said.
Gov. Felix Camacho changed the road's name by executive order, bypassing lawmakers.
Webber said it is unfortunate that Siguenza did not live to see the Marine Corps return to Guam.
"I just think it's unfortunate that we've lost him," Webber said. "Not only have we lost a great Marine and a good officer, ... I think we've lost a great leader."
Ellie
Hawaii troops to help with burial ceremony
By Steve Limtiaco
Pacific Daily News
slimtiaco@guampdn.com
A group of Hawaii-based Marines was scheduled to arrive on Guam last night to help grant retired Marine Capt. Peter C. Siguenza Sr.'s request for a Marine Corps funeral.
Siguenza, the first Chamorro commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, died May 17 at the age of 87.
There are not enough Marines on island to conduct a full military funeral for Siguenza, so the island's 3rd Marine Division Association and Delegate Madeleine Bordallo asked the Marines to send a detail here for tomorrow's funeral.
Scheduled to arrive from Hawaii yesterday were six pallbearers, a bugler and an officer-in-charge.
Also participating in the funeral will be a rifle squad from Guam's Andersen Air Force Base.
"His faithful duty and dedication to the United States of America, the Marine Corps and the island of Guam were admirable and it is only fitting that he be provided one of his last requests, to have a Marine Corps funeral," Bordallo said yesterday.
"(Siguenza) shattered the ridiculous myth that Chamorro sons of Guam were only qualified to serve as men servants in the Navy," retired Marine Gen. Ben Blaz stated in a letter to the Pacific Daily News. "He blazed a trail for others to follow. I did."
Lee Webber, president and publisher of the Pacific Daily News, and a member of the 3rd Marine Division Association, which Siguenza helped start, said Siguenza had a strong interest in community issues.
"We communicated back on forth on various issues," Webber said. "He always had a great sense of bearing on what was right and wrong," and was a great example to local Chamorros.
Marine Corps Drive
It was Siguenza who inspired 3rd Marine Association Vice President John Gerber to march down then "Marine Drive" in 2004 in a successful effort to change the road's name to "Marine Corps Drive."
Gerber said Siguenza was upset that lawmakers did not pass a bill to rename the road, and wanted to protest.
"I saw the look in his face, how disappointed he was, and that's when I decided to do what I did," Gerber said.
Gov. Felix Camacho changed the road's name by executive order, bypassing lawmakers.
Webber said it is unfortunate that Siguenza did not live to see the Marine Corps return to Guam.
"I just think it's unfortunate that we've lost him," Webber said. "Not only have we lost a great Marine and a good officer, ... I think we've lost a great leader."
Ellie