RMI Ambassador to the United States Gerald Zackios is scheduled to present his diplomatic credentials to President Barack Obama at the White House this Friday.
In the meantime, he made his first visit to the Marshallese community in Sacramento, California earlier in September.
He spoke to hundreds of Marshallese at an event hosted by the Marshallese community of Sacramento to celebrate the 37th Jemen-Ei and Manit Day. Ambassador Zackios was accompanied by Washington Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Junior Aini.
Zackios asked for a moment of silence in honor of Iroijlaplap Anjua Loeak who passed recently. Zackios took the opportunity to convey condolences to Leroij Nemaad Loeak, who was present, and the late Iroijlaplap’s family. “Iroijlaplap Anjua, one of our paramount chiefs, was also one of the framers of the Constitution who respected our culture, knew God and lived a humble life. He was a living testament to what we are celebrating today, our Constitution and culture.” said Zackios.
Speaking to the event’s theme, “Kottar Liklal im Mwelik,” the new ambassador encouraged the community to take advantage of opportunities available to them and to prepare for a better future, whether in the United States or back home in the RMI.
“As we live, work, and study here in the US, I humbly ask that we take today’s theme to heart, to prepare for the future. We especially need to prepare our children in both formal education as well as to know and respect our manit (culture),” he said.
Read more about this in the September 16, 2016 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.