Guam senators honor Western Pacific Veterans Community Foundation, Hyatt and partners for Tranquility Garden and veteran workshops

Senators presented certificates of recognition to the Western Pacific Veterans Community Foundation and partner organizations during a ceremony at the Guam Congress Building, citing a July 3, 2025 Tranquility Garden team-building activity and a recent career transition workshop that organizers say supports veterans returning to civilian life.

The recognition cited programs the foundation runs, including career-transition support, horticulture therapy and a Veterans One-Stop model. "The journey of service doesn't end at separation, discharge, or retirement," Senator Shelley Calvo said at the ceremony while presenting the certificate.

Senator Calvo and other sponsors described the activities as part of a broader effort to help veterans with employment, training and social reintegration. The certificate presented was identified in remarks as certificate number 130-38COR (also referenced during the ceremony as 130Eight-thirty8COR) and the recognition was certified by legislative officers named on the certificate.

Marlene Rivo, speaking for the Western Pacific Veterans Community Foundation, said the foundation's programs aim for "community reintegration" and described the transformation she has seen among veterans who take part: "So the person that joined and the person coming out are 2 different people." She listed volunteers and staff who participated in the foundation's activities and thanked legislative sponsors.

Partners described how the Tranquility Garden began and how it is being used. Executive Chef Miracle Agostini of the Hyatt hotel, which provided space for the garden, described the project as a farm-to-table and sustainability effort that reused compost and engaged youth in cooking classes. Hyatt and I CAN Resources Inc. representatives said the garden was intended as a shared public space for veterans, people with disabilities and community members.

Organizers and attendees outlined near-term plans and outreach: a second annual career-transition workshop was announced with dates given as June 18–19 (no year specified in the ceremony transcript), and speakers said they will provide an update on an "at-risk youth, at-risk homeless, and homeless veterans" project at the Society of American Military Engineers general membership meeting in September (year not specified). The foundation also discussed plans for microgreens production and a dementia-center community garden; Hyatt corporate approval was mentioned as a next step for some design work.

Speakers acknowledged that funding is not yet secured for some components. Julie Smithberg, introduced at the event as the foundation's vice president for budget and finance, said in remarks that "we don't have money yet," and organizers indicated they would seek funding and design approvals as next steps.

The ceremony included remarks from veterans, volunteers and corporate and nonprofit partners; participants encouraged community volunteering and cross-sector collaboration. The presentation of certificates was described on the record as an official expression of recognition from the legislature and listed sponsoring senators and legislative attestation on the certificate.

Organizers urged continued collaboration to expand the garden, training and employment programs and to replicate the initiative elsewhere on Guam. No legislative vote or policy change was recorded during the ceremony; the event was a recognition and partnership announcement rather than a formal policy action.

The ceremony closed with a group photo and plans for future workshops and briefings.