DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The provincial government of Pangasinan, in collaboration with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), will honor 37 World War II veterans on the 17th Pangasinan Veterans Day celebration to be held on January 9 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Lingayen town.

Sheryl Simeon, head of the PVAO-Field Service Extension Office in Pangasinan, said “This will remind us of the bravery and sacrifices these veterans made during the war. What we are enjoying now – the freedom we have – we owe it to them. Their heroism should not be forgotten.”

Simeon said that although there are veterans whose physical health is already weak, many will still be able to personally attend the celebration on Tuesday.

The observance of Pangasinan Veterans Day was established by Provincial Ordinance No. 331-2007 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Simeon added that the celebration coincided with the commemoration of the 79th Lingayen Gulf Landing Anniversary, which will be held at the same venue.

This was in remembrance of the historic landings of the Allied Forces by General Douglas MacArthur at the Lingayen Gulf that eventually resulted in the liberation of Luzon and the Pacific area from Japanese imperial forces.

Simeon said the activities for the commemoration are thanksgiving mass, wreath-laying ceremony, and commemorative program. (JCR/AMB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)