|
AFP
Central Command commander LtGen. Raul del Rosario AFP
spearheaded the Wreath Laying Ceremony together with foreign
dignitaries and diplomatic representatives to honor our heroes
of WW2. |
8ID troops join the
commemoration of the 72nd Leyte Gulf Landing Anniversary
By DPAO, 8ID PA
October 24, 2016
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan
City – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army
participated in the commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing
Anniversary at MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, Candahug,
Palo, Leyte on October 20, 2016.
The activity started with a
tribute march of the veterans and lighting of the peace torch by
Commander Avelino L Mosot, Regional President, Veterans Federation of
the Philippines-Leyte Chapter.
The event was graced by
Minister Atsushi Ueno, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul Head of
Political Section, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines; Col. Kevin P
Wolfla US Army Attaché, Embassy of the United States of America in the
Philippines, Capt. Brad White, Defence Attaché, Embassy of Australia
in the Philippines.
Also in attendance were
LtGen. Raul L Del Rosario, Commander Central Command; Brig. Gen. Raul
M Farnacio, Commander 8ID; Brig. Gen. Joel Joseph A. Cabides (Ret),
Regional Vice President, Veterans Federation of the Philippines; Col
Bonifacio G De Gracia (Ret), National President, Veterans Federation
of the Philippines, MGen. Alfredo S Cayton Jr (Ret), Veterans Affairs
Management, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; (Ret) Justice Manuel R
Pamaran, Board of Trustee of Veterans of World War II; Rev. Msgr. Rex
Ramirez, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Palo; Hon Remedios L Petilla,
Municipal Mayor, Palo Leyte; Hon. Carlo P Loreto, Vice Governor of
Leyte; and Hon. Leopoldo Dominico L Petilla, Governor of Leyte.
Messages of Solidarity for
peace were delivered by the diplomatic corps present followed by the
hoisting of flags and singing of their respective national anthems.
The 8ID troops spearheaded
the Wreath Laying Ceremony in honor of our heroes who fought with
gallantry for the present generation to cherish the true essence of
liberty.
Lieut. Gen. Raul L Del
Rosario in his message said, “Today as we celebrate the 72nd
Anniversary of Leyte Landing, we honor Gen. Douglas McArthur who stood
firm and fought his way to reclaim the freedom of the Philippines. We
are also here to honor the thousands of great men and women of
different nationalities who fought in the Philippines in defense of
freedom and we also honor the thousands of Filipino guerillas who
patiently fought underground even at the verge of scarcity. We also
honor the civilians in surrounding communities who equally suffered
the cruelties of war some of whom are present here today. Sa inyo pong
lahat utang namin sa inyo ang ating kalayaan lubos kaming
nagpapasalamat sa inyong mga sakripisyo at kabayanihan patuloy po
kayong magiging inspirasyon ng ating sambayanan.” Del Rosario added.
