Leyte folks told to draw inspiration from war veterans

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 20 (PNA) -– The Leyte provincial government asked the public to learn the bravery of war veterans in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in dealing with modern challenges.

Speaking to reporters during the 72nd Leyte Gulf Landings anniversary on Thursday, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said remembering what “our forefathers did can help people join together to fight modern enemies.”

“We have to remember their bravery, their gallantry, and their love for the nation. We should learn from them and we should continue these traits especially the younger generations. After these years, we still have many battles to win such as poverty, criminality and drugs, diseases, teenage pregnancy and human trafficking,” he added.

The governor also thanked the Allied Forces led by the United State and Australia under the command of General Douglas Macarthur for their role in ending the Japanese occupation in the Philippines during World War II.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf is remembered as the largest naval battle ever fought in the country's modern history. It was fought in four separate engagements near the islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from October 23 to 26 in 1944.

“This is one of the biggest events in Leyte province. In our tourism and our trade, we mainly promote Leyte with the theme of Leyte Gulf Landings, but beyond tourism what is more important is the message, of what had happened 72 years ago,” Petilla said.

During the celebration, Lt. Gen. Raul Del Rosario, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command delivered his commemorative address.

Foreign officials who delivered solidarity messages are Capt. Brad White, defence attaché of Australian Embassy; Minister Atsushi Ueno, deputy chief of mission of Japanese Embassy; and Col. Kevin Wolfla, United States Army attaché of US Embassy in Manila.

From the Philippines, those who read solidarity messages were Retired Justice Manuel Pamaran, World War II Veterans board of trustee, Ret. Col. Bonifacio De Gracia, Veterans Federation of the Philippines national president; and Retired Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolino, Philippine Veteran Affairs Office administrator.

Another highlight of the celebration was the disposition of ashes at this town’s Red Beach of US Infantryman Charles Goldberg Deadeye of the US Army 96th Infantry Division, which was based in Leyte during the Second World War.

On Oct. 20, 1944, Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur, at the head of the largest US fleet of transport and warships, and accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, landed at Red Beach of this town to reclaim the Philippines from the Japanese. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/Lizbeth Ann A. Abella/egr