CLARK FREEPORT– Clark Development Corporation (CDC) honored the heroes of the World War I in the recently concluded annual Veterans Day held at the Clark Cemetery here.
CDC Vice Chairman and retired four-star General Benjamin Defensor lauded the said event and recognized the sacrifices of the Filipino and American veterans.
Defensor, keynote speaker of the event, also cited the 100th anniversary of the end of the World War I which was observed in various parts of the globe.
“We are gathered here to celebrate two occasions; the annual Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of the World War I, and pay tribute and give thanks to Filipino and American veterans, for their supreme sacrifice to attain the freedom which we are presently enjoying,” Defensor, a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2485 in Angeles City, in cooperation with the American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) sponsored the said event.
The traditional Two Bell Ceremony was also conducted by the Fleet Reserve Association and the wreath laying ceremony by the Veterans Organizations while taps and the 21-gun salute was led by the Philippine Air Force.
Accordingly, relatives and friends of the dead and surviving veterans were present during the celebration.
Clark Freeport Zone was once a military base facility which was the largest overseas base of the United States Air Force until the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. It was handed over to the Philippine government and was transformed into one of the premiere economic hubs in Asia.