Thousands lined Marine Corps Drive on Monday to mark the 81st anniversary of Guam's liberation from Japanese occupation during World War II.
The annual parade featured marching bands, uniformed military personnel, cultural dancers, veterans, and colorful floats honoring war survivors and their descendants.
Among the spectators was Monty McDowell, a Navy veteran and local business owner whose family has ties to Guam's wartime history.
"My father and his brothers were in the Navy. They were liberators of Guam," he said. "And my wife’s mother was in a concentration camp. A couple of her brothers, of course, her grandparents, were affected. The cost of freedom… It’s not free."
Liberation Day commemorates July 21, 1944, when U.S. forces landed on the beaches of Asan and Agat to recapture the island after nearly three years of brutal occupation. The anniversary has evolved into both somber remembrance and a celebration of CHamoru resilience.
This year's theme, "Fanohge CHamoru" which means "Stand Tall, CHamoru", honors the strength and resilience of the CHamoru people across generations. According to the Office of the Governor of Guam, the theme reflects the island's enduring pride, cultural identity, and unity as it continues to navigate complex political and historical challenges.
