(Photo courtesy of DND)
MANILA – Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Saturday urged Filipinos to safeguard the freedom and shared values defended by Filipino and American war veterans, emphasizing that honoring their sacrifices requires more than ceremonial tributes.
Speaking during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in observance of US Veterans Day, Teodoro said the present generation has a responsibility to preserve the liberties secured by those who fought during World War II.
He stressed that the veterans’ “common fight to repulse aggressions” should serve as a reminder of the continuing duty to defend freedom and build a better future for succeeding generations.
“The greater sacrifice is to continue and not waste the sacrifice they made. That is the ultimate duty that we owe those… who chose an option or found themselves in a situation where we are living today because of them,” Teodoro said.
The defense chief emphasized that remembering fallen soldiers must also involve protecting the principles and freedoms for which they gave their lives.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton paid tribute to approximately 17,000 American and Filipino service members buried at the cemetery.
Their “sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never free,” Lipton said.
During World War II, thousands of Filipino soldiers fought alongside American forces in defending the Philippines against Japanese occupation.
Their combined efforts contributed to the country’s liberation and the surrender of Japanese forces in 1945.
The ceremony honored the enduring sacrifices of Filipino and American veterans and the historical ties forged between the two countries during the war.
