Guam Liberation Day is the largest celebration in Guam. It is held annually on July 21 to commemorate the landing of U.S. troops during World War II, marking the end of Japanese colonial rule since 1941. The festivities culminate in a mile-long parade down Marine Corps Drive in Hagåtña, featuring thousands of military personnel, civilians, and numerous vendors and performances. In fact, a variety of events and ceremonies are held throughout July as part of Guam Liberation Month.
History of the Guam Liberation Parade
After World War II, community leader Agueda Iglesias Johnston persuaded U.S. military leaders on Guam to support a celebration commemorating the island’s liberation from Japanese occupation. In 1951, under the sponsorship of Speaker Antonio B. Won Pat, legislation was passed to commemorate this momentous occasion, and this day is one of Guam’s holidays — Liberation Day, celebrated on July 21.
Watch the 80th Guam Liberation Day Parade video for interesting images.
The first Guam Liberation Day Parade was held on July 21, 1945, exactly one year after U.S. forces reclaimed the island. That first celebration was a profound moment for the Chamorro people, who had endured more than two years of hardship under Japanese rule.
Since then, the parade has grown into Guam’s largest annual celebration, honoring the sacrifices of those who fought for the island’s freedom and celebrating the resilience of the Chamorro people. The Hagåtña event has become the centerpiece of the annual Liberation Day festivities, bringing together military personnel, civilians, vendors, and performers to celebrate this significant moment in Guam’s history. It is a vibrant reflection of Guam’s rich cultural heritage and diverse community.
Highlights of the parade
The 80th Liberation Day Parade commenced with the presentation of a letter from President Joseph Biden to Governor Lou Leon Guerrero by Native Hawaiians, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans. The grand parade, led by members of the Joint Color Guard, began at 8 a.m. down Marine Corps Drive in Hagåtña, attracting large crowds who lined the streets to witness the vibrant procession of colorfully decorated floats, cultural performances, and marching bands.
Over 1,000 people and 86 villages, government agencies, non-profit groups, businesses, and military units participated in this fascinating event. It showcased an impressive array of 47 floats, celebrating the island’s liberation from Japanese occupation during World War II. Among the international contingents were cultural performance groups from neighboring Pacific islands, such as Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, as well as the Falun Dafa Tian Guo Marching Band. These groups joined local performers to highlight their unique cultural heritage, adding a rich, multicultural dimension to this momentous event.
Dressed in elegant Tang Dynasty costumes and playing uplifting and inspiring music, the Falun Dafa Tian Guo Marching Band stood out among the 86 participants. Composed of about 60 Falun Dafa members from Taiwan and 10 from Japan, it was the event’s largest and only foreign marching band. In addition, positioned at the end of the procession, the Tian Guo Marching Band was surprisingly invited to perform in front of the reviewing stage before the parade concluded, adding a memorable touch to the momentous event.
In the float competition of the 80th Liberation Day Parade, the float entry from Barrigada Village won first place, the float entry from Dededo Village secured second place, and the float entry from Mangilao Village achieved third place in the village category.
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