A view of the Central Mall and the Graves Area from the Memorial |
Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial tour of Mr. John Silva. It was both an enlightening and a poignant exploration of the largest American cemetery in the Pacific. I say "privilege" because on that same morning, there was a large group of students having a tour of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial and sadly, there was no one discussing to them the importance of the place or even the story behind its construction.
The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is located at Old Lawton Avenue at the Bonifacio Global City (Fort Bonifacio) in Taguig, Philippines. Upon entering its gates, I was immediately struck by the tranquility and sublime beauty of the place. The pristine plaza with its circular fountain, the long central mall leading to the memorial, the lush greenery, and the distinct chapel were simply breathtaking. Truly, its architect, Mr. Gardener Dailey, left no stone unturned to create a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives during the war. For me, the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii, which I had the opportunity of visiting a few years ago, paled in comparison to this memorial.
The beautiful trees and shrubs surrounding the white headstones in the Graves Area |
A map showing the Defense of Southeast Asia, designed by Margaret Bruton |
The Chapel's tower |
TO THEIR MEMORY
THEIR COUNTRY BRINGS ITS GRATITUDE
AS FLOWERS FOREVER LIVING
Also in the Chapel is a Carillon, which rings every hour and half hour, between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I was fortunate enough to hear its melodic toll during the tour, and we were told that at the end of the day, at around 5 p.m., the Carillon plays the National Anthems of the Philippines and the United States.
These are just some of the remarkable things I saw and discovered during the tour of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. With the unrest and violence happening in the world, a visit to this memorial is a good way of reminding us of the beauty of peace and the consequences of war. Let me leave you with an inscription that I saw in the Memorial:
...LET US HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT
THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY DIED SHALL LIVE.
__________________
Thank you to Mr. Silva for the tour! You can check his blog for tour schedules and fees. The Visitors' Building of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, located near the cemetery's entrance, also provides information and assistance for those who wish to explore the place on their own.
thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteAppreciate you bloggingg this
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