The government is hosting tomorrow, Nov. 11th, its annual Veterans Day ceremony, set for 9a.m. at the Veterans Monument center in the Sen. Daniel Inouye Industrial Park, across from the ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank.

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga is expected to deliver special remarks at the event and the governor has encouraged residents “to salute and thank our veterans for their sacrifice and service to our country” on Veterans Day.

“...The men and women of American Samoa continue to serve our country in these perilous times, and by their service they keep America strong and represent our dedication to the values of liberty espoused by the nation’s founding fathers,” Lolo said in his Veterans Day proclamation.

“I ask that we pray for the safe return of those veterans currently serving abroad,” the governor said. “I also ask that we remember those who lost their lives on the battlefield, and to keep in our thoughts and prayers those who remain missing in action, and to never rest until they come home.”

In his proclamation, US President Barack Obama encouraged all “Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers, and by observing 2 minutes of silence for our Nation's veterans.”

Tomorrow is a local and federal government holiday; and Lolo has declared tomorrow an ASG holiday with all government offices closed and normal activities suspended.

Several local businesses, including the three local banks — ANZ bank, Territorial Bank of American Samoa and Bank of Hawaii — will be closed. Samoa News understands StarKist Samoa along with Talofa Systems canning plant will continue operations tomorrow. There is no word on the status of Samoa Tuna Processors Inc. cannery operation.

However, a lot of stores will be open tomorrow and are offering special Veterans Day specials. (See elsewhere in yesterday and today’s Samoa News for various paid advertisements for Veterans Day sales.)

In honor of our veterans, Samoa News will not publish tomorrow and will return Monday. We wish all a safe Veterans Day.