Frikken Duckie - A blog about life and shit, on Guam.: parade

Here on Guam, one of the biggest local holidays is Liberation Day, which we celebrate every year on July 21st. It was on this date in 1944 that the U.S. armed forces arrived on Guam to liberate the local people from the control of the Japanese during World War II.

We celebrate and remember this day in our history with a parade, carnival, and fiestas (or parties) with family. The Liberation Day Parade is the main highlight of the day. Villages throughout the island create and showcase floats to represent their village and to pay tribute to the people who lived through and lost their lives during the war.

It is our family tradition to reserve a spot along the parade route and watch the parade live. We set up a canopy, bring food and a barbecue grill, rent a portable toilet, and spend our whole day down on Marine Corps Drive. The parade really is a wonderful cultural experience for tourists and locals alike.

The Guam Liberation Day Parade is something that I think everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Despite the heat and humidity, it is truly an event worth seeing. The sense of community and family is strongest on this day and should you be in town around July 21st, I invite you to join my family and I as we celebrate this proud day in Guam's history.