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Island Life

Art, Architecture, Body Adornment, Music and Food, Creative Expression, Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, Music, People and Places, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life, Wars and Factors of Peace, WWII, WWII/Japanese Era

Song of Hope, Song of Faith

Ditty urged the Americans to return. I used to listen lo my auntie’s stories about the invasion, occupation, liberation and other things concerning the Japanese on Guam back then. She told me all about the “Uncle Sam” song and used to sing different versions of it, all the while a smile upon her face.

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Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, Modern Guam Rises, People and Places, Post WWII Era, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life, Wars and Factors of Peace, WWII

Liberation Day Queen Contest

History of Liberation Queen Competition. While there were Liberation Day commemorations since 1945 the first Liberation Day queen contest wasn’t held until 1948. Beatrice Blas Calvo Perez was the first Liberation Day Queen of Guam. The winner was declared based on ticket sales, just as it is today.

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Chamorro Culture, Division of Resources, Island Life, Our Heritage, People and Places, Resources, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

Passion for Pugua

Betel nut use. Areca (Betel) nut is the seed of the palm known scientifically as Areca catechu. Betel nut is the fourth most widely used psychoactive substance in the world, following only caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. These substances act upon the central nervous system to alter brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior. Over 600 million people chew betel nut worldwide, including Indians, Asians, and Pacific Islanders. In the Mariana Islands, betel nut, or pugua, chewing is a social pastime that extends friendship.

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Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, People and Places, US Naval Era, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

American Legion

The American Legion is a federally chartered veterans organization that supports veterans’ issues and engages in other community projects. The American Legion Mid-Pacific Post No. 1 was founded in Guam in 1930 under Naval Governor Willis Bradley. When the Guam Museum was first established in 1932, Governor Edmund S. Root authorized the use of a small building adjacent to the Plaza de España’s historic grounds fronting and surrounding the Governor’s Palace. The newly formed American Legion offered to manage it. Hiram W. Elliot, post commander, and Naval Chaplain Francis Lee Albert. Elliot hired Joaquin T. Aguon to help with the collections.

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Guamanian Era, Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, Modern Guam Rises, People and Places, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

Guam Historical Club

The Guam Historical Club was a small group of people interested in Guam history in the 1950s and 1960s. Led by Paul Souder and Agueda Iglesias Johnston, the Club helped tell the story of Guam history at the Guam Museum when it was located at the Garden House at the Plaza de España. Members helped care for the artifacts, engaged with visitors as needed, and worked in cooperation with the Guam Women’s Club who staffed the museum at the time.

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Contemporary Guam Era, Guamanian Era, Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, Modern Guam Rises, People and Places, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association

Founded in 1965 by the late Senator Cecilia Cruz Bamba, the Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association (GMHVA) is a nonprofit organization of dedicated people, who, through their gift of time, talent, and personal interest, supplement the professional hospital staff in caring for the comfort and welfare of the patients, personnel, and visitors to the hospital.

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Contemporary Guam Era, Guamanian Era, Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, Modern Guam Rises, People and Places, Post WWII Era, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

Guam Liberation Day

Guam’s biggest celebration. After World War II was over community leader Agueda Iglesias Johnston convinced US military leaders on Guam to support a celebration to commemorate the Liberation of the island from the Japanese. It was enacted into law in 1951 in Bill 35 sponsored by Speaker Antonio B. Won Pat. This celebration continues to this day as one of Guam’s holidays – Liberation Day, which is celebrated on July 21st.

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CHamoru Quest for Self-Determination, Civic Society, Contemporary Guam Era, Contemporary Guam: Politics, Historic Eras of Guam, Island Life, People and Places, Politics and Government, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

Nasion Chamoru

Tinituhun. On 21 July 1991 at Latte Stone Memorial Park in Hagåtña, a small group of Chamorro men and women gathered to form a new organization. This organization would be comprised of a number of different grassroots and family-based groups, who were all connected through a commitment to the Chamorro people and to the protection of their lands, their culture and their rights.

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