GIFF JOHNSON
A 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony for the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States was held last Friday morning on the lawn of the US Embassy in Majuro.
Embassy Chargé Gregory D’Alesandro, Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko and American Legion Post 22 Commandant Edward Adiniwin — all veterans of the US military — spoke at the ceremony. Their remarks were sandwiched between opening and closing prayers by Pastor Steve Clark.
About 30 people participated, including a contingent of uniformed members of the US Army.
“When I saw that our flagpole here at Embassy Majuro was dedicated to the 2,977 souls who were taken from us on 9/11, it brought back memories from that day, and the days that followed,” said D’Alesandro. “I remember making the journey to ground zero in the weeks after the attack, the heaviness of the air weighing upon my soul, the frustration that we had not prevented this terrible tragedy from occurring, the profound sense of loss and sadness.
“When I saw this plaque, I knew that we as a community had to come here to this flagpole to remember them and honor their sacrifices on this date, marking the passing of 25 years, a quarter of a century.”
“For the people of the Marshall Islands, September 11 also holds a particular place in the history of our relationship with the United States,” Kaneko said, noting that the US and RMI were negotiating the second funding agreement for the Compact of Free Association at that time. “Those negotiations were about the future of our partnership — our economic relationship, our mutual security, and the responsibilities our two nations share. Then came September 11.”
Kaneko made the point that the Compact is more than words on paper. “The strength of that partnership was demonstrated not only through words or agreements, but through the actions of our people,” he said. “When America called upon its sons and daughters to defend their nation, Marshallese men and women answered that call as well. They joined the United States Armed Forces, served alongside their American brothers and sisters, and accepted the same risks and responsibilities of military service.”
Kaneko said the service of Marshallese demonstrated that the “Compact is more than a legal agreement between governments. It represents a partnership between peoples, grounded in shared history, mutual security, and mutual responsibility. Marshallese families have given real meaning to that partnership through sons and daughters who have worn the uniform of the United States, including during the conflicts that followed September 11.”
Adiniwin said no matter the distance between the two countries, “the shockwaves of that tragedy reached our shores instantly. We wept with America. We felt the profound weight of that loss. And as a people bound by a unique and enduring covenant, we did not hesitate to act.”
Marshallese veterans “understand the true cost of freedom,” Adiniwin said and added: “The bond between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the United States is not just written on diplomatic paper. It is forged in shared sacrifice. It is driven by a deep conviction, an unwavering determination, and a heartfelt purpose to protect our people, our home, and our allies.”
Adiniwin added: “I am profoundly proud of the legacy of our Marshallese veterans. Let us use this solemn anniversary to renew our vow to protect one another, to strengthen the unbreakable bond between our two nations, and to let our shared determination carry the torch of peace for generations to come.”
D’Alesandro said anniversary of 9/11 was not “solely a time of mourning but also one of conviction and unity. It is a reminder that in the face of unimaginable loss, we came together as one nation, one people, with the support of our global friends, determined to uphold the values of freedom, resilience, and love. We showed the world that we will never yield, we will never bend, we will never give up.”