Solomon Islands Commemorates 75th Anniversary of WWII Battle of Guadalcanal

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Solomon Islands Commemorates 75th Anniversary of WWII Battle of Guadalcanal

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The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau announce the Official Program for the 2nd & 3rd of August 2017. Highlights Include Debut of New John F. Kennedy Museum & Monument And Remarks By United States Defense Attaché, Commander Dan Balsinger

SOLOMON ISLANDS – In commemoration of 75th Anniversary of the WWII Battle of the Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, the Ministry of Culture & Tourism and Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau are holding two special events on August 2 and 3, 2017 on Kennedy and Lubaria Islands in Gizo, Solomon Islands. On hand for the event will be United States Defense Attaché, Commander, Dan Balsinger.

Presiding over the events will be The Honorable Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga, The Honorable Minister of Culture & Tourism, Bartholomew Parapolo, together with CEO Josefa Tuamoto of Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau, the official tourism arm for the country.

Day one will kick off on August 2, 2017 on Kennedy Island with warriors welcoming guests upon arrival and an official welcome by The Honorable Premier Western Province, followed by an opening address by Mr. Maelanga and then an unveiling of a portrait of John F. Kennedy by Mr. Maelanga and Commander Balsinger.

On August 3, 2017, an all-day event on nearby Lubaria Island, where Kennedy’s Patrol Torpedo Craft was based, will highlight an unveiling of the John F. Kennedy Monument by Minister of Culture & Tourism The Honorable Bartholomew Parapolo. Guests will also partake in a tour of the Base and new John F. Kennedy Museum. In addition, cultural displays, wood carvings, authentic cuisine, and a bamboo band and dancers will also be a part of the festivities.

Each event will salute the late Lieutenant John F. Kennedy of the U.S. Navy (35th President of the United States 1961-1963) who was stationed in the Solomon Islands during World War II and who fought heroically and exhibited great bravery and courage in saving 11 of his crew members when his vessel, Patrol Torpedo Craft PT-109 was rammed and sank on the night of 01 August 1943 forcing the survivors to swim to Kennedy Island.

It will also honor two brave Solomon Islanders scouts the late Biuku Gasa and late Eroni Kumana from the Western Province who discovered Lieutenant Kennedy and his crew on nearby Olasana Island, and who, despite the gravest of danger, paddled many miles through enemy controlled waters to deliver a message inscribed on a green coconut to the Allied Forces Base in Rendova enabling a successful American rescue operation of the PT-109 survivors.

In conjunction with the events on Kennedy and Lubaria Islands, other events commemorating the 75th Anniversary of WWII Battle of the Guadalcanal will be held throughout the Solomon Islands from August 5-9 2017.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/solohistory/

Travelers to the Pacific Island destination can book year-round tours of prominent battle sites through Valor Tours, Ltd., based in San Francisco. www.valortours.com. To view the several battlefield sites, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGoiSFjOBR4.

For more information on the 75th Commemoration of the Battlefield of the Guadalcanal events, visit: https://www.facebook.com/solohistory/

DAY ONE – 2nd August 2017, Kennedy Island - MC/Facilitator: Mrs. Freda Unusi
Opening Formalities
10:30 am Arrival of Guests at Nusa Tupe Airstripe
Tomoko Escort to Kennedy Island
Warriors Welcome on Arrival
11:00 am Welcome cocktail in a coconut shell symbolizing the coconut that was given to SI scouts to take to the base will be served as the guests arrive

11: 15 am Guests seated and Opening Prayer
Ivan Maike

11: 20 am National Anthems
Solomon Islands and United States

11:30 am Official Welcome and Introduction of Guest of Honour
Hon. Premier Western Province

11:40 am Opening Address
Deputy Prime Minister, Manasseh Maelanga

11:50 am Unveiling of the monument of JFKs portrait
Deputy Prime Minister, & Commander Dan Belsinger

12:00 pm Speech by US Representative
Commander Dan Belsinger

12:10 pm Formal Sit down Lunch (Tomoko setting)

1:30 pm Reliving the JFK trail Kennedy, Olasana, Naru

4:00 pm Depart to Fat Boys
Rest and ready for function

7:00 pm Official Dinner at Fatboys (hosted by Premier Western Province)

9:30 pm Retire for the Night

DAY TWO – 3rd August 2017, Lubaria Island, MC/Facilitator: TBC

06:00 am Depart for Rendova Harbour following the coconut trail to Lubaria

08:00 am Welcome ceremony

08:30 am Speech by Minister of Culture and Tourism
Hon Bartholomew Parapolo

08:45 am Unveiling of JFKs monument at Lubaria
Minister for Culture and Tourism, & Commander Dan Balsinger

08:50 am Speech by US Representative
Commander Dan Balsinger

09:00 am Tour of the JFKs Base and Museum

09:30 am Island Brunch (Lubaria Island)

10:00 am Cultural Displays, tapa, food prep, bamboo band and Dance, children’s toys and carvings

12: 00 pm Depart for Munda while island hopping

2: 00 pm Arrival at Munda
Afternoon Rest

06:30 pm Dinner (hosted by Minister of Culture and Tourism)

For more information visit http://www.visitsolomons.com.sb