Places In Saipan: Monument to the War Dead In the Mid-Pacific

Basic Information

• What: Monument the War Dead of the Mid-Pacific
• Where: Saipan, USA
• Cost: Free
• Hours: Always Open
• More Information: The Japan Times

Narrative

After checking out the Korean and Okinawa Peace Memorials located in northern Saipan, I next walked over to the Monument to the War Dead in the Mid-Pacific.  This was the largest memorial in the park:

The monument was constructed by the Japanese government in 1974 in memory of everyone who sacrificed their lives in the mid-Pacific during World War II:

Also at the memorial was a marker that commemorated a visit by the Japanese Emperor and Empress to the site on June 28th 2005:

Here is a closer look at what the inscription on the marker says:

The site was quite nice and just like the other nearby memorials this one as well had the stunning backdrop of the 800 foot cliffs of the impressive Mt. Marpi:

Mt. Marpi is also known as “Suicide Cliff” since it is the location where many Japanese soldiers and civilians jumped to their deaths during the last days of the Battle of Saipan during World War II:

Conclusion

The Monument to the War Dead in the Mid-Pacific is part of a larger peace park in northern Saipan.  It is well worth stopping here to see the Korean Peace Memorial, the Okinawa Peace Memorial, the Monument to the War Dead in the Mid-Pacific and the Last Command Post.  After viewing the memorials at this park, the nearby Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff can be driven to that offer spectacular views of northern Saipan.