CLARK FREEPORT— The Clark Development Corp. joined US and Filipino veterans’ groups in commemorating Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, at the Clark Veterans Cemetery (CVC), paying tribute to service members who gave their lives in military service.
CDC president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera led the wreath-laying ceremony, joined by Timothy Pratt, superintendent of the CVC under the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC); Rhett Weber, junior vice commander of the American Legion Post 123; Shawn Watson, quartermaster of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Pacific; and Capt. Jason Lehto, Coast Guard attaché of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.
In her message, Devanadera underscored the importance of honoring the past even as Clark continues to grow as a center for development. “As Clark progresses, this cemetery shall serve as a reminder that peace and development are built on the legacy of those who served,” she said.
“This ceremony honors the fallen and affirms the values of service, unity, and duty—ensuring their sacrifices are remembered not only by Americans, but also by Filipinos and other Asians,” she said.
Representatives from various veterans’ organizations attended the event, including the Air Defense Command of Clark Air Base, VFW Posts 2485 and 12231, American Legion Post 123, Col. B.J. Smith VFW Post 9892, MOC Pup Tent 7 KUTO La Union, Disabled American Veterans TBH Memorial Chapter #3 (Angeles City), Retiree Activities Office (RAO), Manila Lodge 761 BPOE Inc., Leatherneck Philippines, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 887, Special Forces Association, Angeles City Returned Services League Sub-Branch, Filipino American Memorial Endowment, THUNDER MC, and the ABMC.
The Memorial Day Ceremony is held annually to commemorate those who have fallen and died in military service. The CVC is the final resting place of more than 9,000 US and Filipino military personnel, including over 2,000 unidentified remains.
The cemetery spans 20 acres or 8.09 hectares and is one of only two ABMC cemeteries in the world still open to new burials, the other being in Corozal, Panama.
CDC-PR
