Photo Gallery

October 22, 2004

U.S. joins commemoration of 60^th anniversary of Leyte Landing

	(Top photo:) President Arroyo, accompanied by Senator and former tourism secretary Richard Gordon (right), greets Veteran Edmund Zander, one of the hundreds of American veterans who came to the Philippines to participate in the commemoration activities.  (Middle photo:)  U.S. veterans Donald Dencker (left) and Edmund Zander (middle) meet Ambassador Ricciardone.  (Lower photo:) Filipino veterans receive warm greetings from Captain Joseph A. Horn, Jr., Captain of the USS Lake Erie, which anchored off Leyte to participate in the event.

 

Ambasssador Ricciardone reads President George W. Bush's message to the veterans: "Know that we will continue to recognize this date as a day to draw renewed inspiration from your courage and sacrifice in the cause of freedom. We will pass on to our children what your great generation has passed to us: a world where liberty is the right of all humankind, and where men and women will remain vigilant in its defense."

 

	An honor contingent of sailors (above) from USS Lake Erie marched during the parade, while a son (left) of an American veteran of the 1944 battle in Leyte records the 60th anniversary events and sites, including the island's famous monument (below) immortalizing the landing of the Allied Forces.

 

On October 21, Filipino journalists (above) board the USS Lake Erie for a visit.  A guided missile cruiser of the U.S. Navy (USN), Lake Erie was anchored 4 miles off Palo, Leyte, for the celebration.  USN Seventh Fleet Chief Journalist James Stadelman (right, photo on left) shakes hands with Ambassador Ricciardone during the diplomatic reception aboard the Lake Erie.

 

###