A significant event in Nauru’s history was commemorated for the first time to specifically honour Nauruans who perished and survived the devastation of World War II.
The date 29 June 1943 was the day the first group of Nauruans were exiled to Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. The special memorial service this week, Sunday 29 June, at the war monument at the Aiue Boulevard was held in honour of them and all Nauruans who lived through wartime including the 39 lepers who were towed out to sea on 11 July 1943, never to return.
Of the 1200 Nauruans deported to Chuuk, less than 800 survived and returned home at the end of WWII.
MC Kiara Agege welcomed guests to the church service led by Pastor Kakiber Adeang. Among them the survivors, affectionately known as the ‘Young at Hearts’. Only 20 of them remain. The eldest, Violet Mackay is 91 years old.
President David Adeang laid the first wreath followed by a minute silence and the prayer of remembrance.
President Adeang announced in Parliament last week that 29 June will now be observed annually as Remembrance Day, for the nation to pause and pay respects to Nauruans of that time.