Guam Legislature presents long-unclaimed 'Medals of the Greatest Sacrifice' to families of fallen service members
November 20, 2025 | General Government Operations and Appropriations , Legislative, Guam
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HAGÅTÑA, Guam — The Guam Legislature on Saturday presented long-unclaimed "Medals of the Greatest Sacrifice" to families of service members in a ceremony at the Guam Congress Building.
Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani, legislative secretary and chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the medals were created by Public Law 30-193 to ensure that the names of those who gave their lives in service to Guam and the United States are not forgotten. "We can never thank our veterans enough," she said in opening remarks, and described the presentation as finishing "a mission that began more than 15 years ago" under the late Speaker Ben Pangelinan.
A total of 56 medals were discovered in the Congress Building by the legislature’s executive director, Joanne Camacho, Salas Matanani said. With help from media partners, village mayors and community volunteers, staff located more than 30 families to receive medals at the event.
"When I held these medals for the first time, I thought of my dad," Salas Matanani said. "Brina, don't fail these families," she recalled thinking — a sentiment she said guided the legislature’s effort to track down relatives.
Senator Tina Rose Muñoz Barnes, an original cosponsor of the law, spoke about Guam’s high per-capita military service and urged that the presentation reaffirm the island’s commitment to remember those who died in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm and later conflicts.
Event organizers read recipients’ names and invited family members forward to receive medals. The transcript includes a sequence of names read during the ceremony; presenters completed the medal handovers and invited participants to join a group photograph.
Organizers said their work is not finished. "There are more medals which our office is still looking for, but our work is not finished, and we will not give up," an emcee said, and attendees were told refreshments were available outside the session hall.
The presentation concluded with thanks to the families, village mayors and legislative staff who assisted in locating relatives. Officials said they will continue efforts to find remaining families and deliver any additional medals governed by Public Law 30-193.
Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani, legislative secretary and chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the medals were created by Public Law 30-193 to ensure that the names of those who gave their lives in service to Guam and the United States are not forgotten. "We can never thank our veterans enough," she said in opening remarks, and described the presentation as finishing "a mission that began more than 15 years ago" under the late Speaker Ben Pangelinan.
A total of 56 medals were discovered in the Congress Building by the legislature’s executive director, Joanne Camacho, Salas Matanani said. With help from media partners, village mayors and community volunteers, staff located more than 30 families to receive medals at the event.
"When I held these medals for the first time, I thought of my dad," Salas Matanani said. "Brina, don't fail these families," she recalled thinking — a sentiment she said guided the legislature’s effort to track down relatives.
Senator Tina Rose Muñoz Barnes, an original cosponsor of the law, spoke about Guam’s high per-capita military service and urged that the presentation reaffirm the island’s commitment to remember those who died in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm and later conflicts.
Event organizers read recipients’ names and invited family members forward to receive medals. The transcript includes a sequence of names read during the ceremony; presenters completed the medal handovers and invited participants to join a group photograph.
Organizers said their work is not finished. "There are more medals which our office is still looking for, but our work is not finished, and we will not give up," an emcee said, and attendees were told refreshments were available outside the session hall.
The presentation concluded with thanks to the families, village mayors and legislative staff who assisted in locating relatives. Officials said they will continue efforts to find remaining families and deliver any additional medals governed by Public Law 30-193.
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