This resolution supports designating Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day to honor the courage and sacrifices of the CHamoru people during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
James (Jim) Moylan
Representative
GU
This resolution officially supports designating a specific day to honor the survivors of the Japanese occupation of Guam during World War II. It recognizes the immense sacrifice, loyalty, and bravery of the CHamoru people during the nearly three-year occupation. The bill encourages the entire nation to observe this day to remember those lost and support the surviving veterans and their families.
Congress Backs Designation of June 28, 2025, as Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day
This resolution is straightforward: Congress is officially throwing its support behind designating June 28, 2025, as "Guam War Survivors Remembrance Day." This is about formally recognizing the incredible resilience and loyalty shown by the people of Guam—the CHamoru people—who endured nearly three years of brutal Japanese occupation during World War II.
The Real-World Impact of Remembrance
For most people on the mainland, this might seem like a symbolic gesture, but symbols matter. This resolution acknowledges a history of immense sacrifice that often gets overlooked in the broader WWII narrative. From 1941 to 1944, the CHamoru population suffered forced labor and imprisonment in camps like Manenggon, with nearly 10% of the island’s population—about 1,170 civilians—losing their lives. They also famously risked everything to hide American service members, like George Ray Tweed, demonstrating unshakeable loyalty to the U.S. during the occupation.
This move reinforces previous efforts, like the 2016 Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, which provided reparations. The Government of Guam has already paid out over $38 million to survivors and their families. This resolution doesn't create a new federal funding stream or mandate a new holiday, but it does serve as a national affirmation that these survivors' stories—their courage and their pain—are important and must be preserved for future generations. It’s an official nod that says, “We see you, and we remember.”
What This Means for the Rest of Us
The resolution encourages everyone across the United States to observe this Remembrance Day with "appropriate events and activities." Think of it less like a federal mandate and more like a national history lesson. For educators, community leaders, and anyone interested in history, this provides a specific date and impetus to focus on the Pacific theater’s civilian experience. It’s about ensuring that the sacrifices made by the people of Guam are included in the national memory, honoring those who have passed and supporting those who are still with us today.