Whereas CHamoru are the indigenous people of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands;

Whereas the first inhabitants of Guam and the Marianas arrived thousands of years ago and cultivated an advanced seafaring culture;

Whereas the CHamoru people are i Taotao Tåno’ yan i Taotao Tasi, the people of the land and sea;

Whereas inafa’ maolek is the foundation of CHamoru culture, emphasizing respetu, manginge, chenchule, and familia;

Whereas Guam and the Mariana Islands have played essential roles in trans-Pacific crossings for centuries;

Whereas the CHamoru people experienced Imperial Japanese occupation during World War II;

Whereas the CHamoru people were essential in the United States victories at the Battle of Guam, the Battle of Saipan, and the Battle of Tinian;

Whereas Guam was liberated by the United States in July 1944 following the second Battle of Guam;

Whereas more than 200,000 people living in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the mainland United States claim CHamoru ancestry;

Whereas CHamoru men and women go on to serve in the armed services at a rate higher than the national average; and

Whereas the CHamoru people are a people of resilience and perseverance: Now, therefore, be it