Naval Hospital Guam Color Guard - Essay Example

Naval Hospital Guam Color Guard During the celebration of the 232nd Navy Birthday Ball on October 13, 2007, held at the Pacific Islands Club in Tumon, the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam's Color Guard marched carrying the American Flag. The Color Guard also unfolded and presented the flag. The event was attended by sailors, family members and residents from around Guam garbed in their service dress uniforms and formal outfit. The commemoration ceremony was a symbolic way to remember the Prisoners of War (POWs) and those Missing in Action (MIA) from the wars.

Vice Admiral Doug Crowder, Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet delivered a speech about the Navy's future. Adm. Crowder said, "Part of the mission is to turn this Navy over in the better shape than we found it to those who come behind us. I ask you all to take that on as a true mission in the year ahead."On November 11, 2007, during the Veterans Day ceremony, Hospitalman Stephen Cendana of the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam took part in the Joint Color Guard that presented the flags at the honoring observance rite.

Island residents and military dignitaries attended the event held at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex in Adelup to pay tribute to the veterans. The military tradition of duty, honor, and freedom resounded at the commemoration celebration. Scott Duenas, a navy veteran and one of the sixteen (16) Veterans of the Year expressed his pride for being part of the tradition of patriotism. Duenas said: "There's a lot of people who went before me. And today we've got other veterans serving on active duty and we also need to honor them.

"The first day on the island was spent by Leach exploring and looking for a suitable location to set up a Naval Hospital and Dispensary at Agana. The residents, at the time the Naval Medical Officers set foot on the island, had none of the benefits of modern western medicines or physicians. Many of the island inhabitants were afflicted with tuberculosis, leprosy, congenital syphilis (gangosa), whooping cough, and typhoid. The first U.S. governor of Guam and commanding officer of the Naval Station Guam, Capt. R. Leary, sent a request letter (August 26, 1899) to the Navy Secretary, writing: "With the exception of the medical supplies belonging to our vessels, there is not one ounce of medicine on this island to additional Medical Officers and two more Hospital Stewards be sent here.

"During this time, there was no Navy physician care provision for the Navy since they only relied on local physicians to care for military dependents. Capt. R. Leary understood the need to expand the practical application of the medical team that will cover taking care of navy dependents as well as island inhabitants, with the purpose of protecting the health and well being of members in active duty. Almost immediately thereafter, the entire island population began to be treated and medically ministered at the Naval Hospital.

During the period from August 1899 and July 1900, about 1,141 civilian patients were treated by the medical team. At this time, Guam's local population numbered about 9,630. Out of necessity because of a shortfall in personnel, Medical Officers started educating and instructing local women to become health workers. Midwifery was the first class established in 1901, establishing and founding the long tradition of the Naval Hospital Guam's staff in the education and teaching of local residents to become providers of health care.