MANILA, Philippines –
A solemn ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Manila was held Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
Members of a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency disinterment team joined families, officials, and veterans to honor those who perished in one of World War II’s most devastating urban battles.
The event, hosted and organized by both the U.S. Embassy and the American Battle Monuments Commission, had hundreds of attendees who paid tribute to approximately 17,000 American service members buried in the cemetery.
The Battle of Manila, fought between Feb. 3 and March 3, 1945, claimed more than 100,000 civilian lives and led to the liberation of the Philippine capital from Japanese occupation.
The DPAA team, currently conducting disinterment operations at the site as part of its ongoing mission to identify and repatriate the remains of fallen U.S. service members, were present as guests at the ceremony. Their work involves meticulous exhumation and forensic analysis to provide answers to families whose loved ones remain unaccounted-for.
“Attending the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Manila is not just about remembering history; it is about honoring the sacrifices of those who fought and died for freedom,” said Christopher Phelps, DPAA Indo-Pacific directorate director. “For the DPAA, this moment underscores the urgent need to disinter unknown graves and hopefully bring closure to families who have waited decades for answers. Every identification is a restoration of dignity, a reaffirmation of duty, and a promise that no service member who fought and died for freedom is ever forgotten.”
The ceremony featured speeches from U.S. and Philippine dignitaries, a reading of the names and stories of Medal of Honor recipients, and a rifle salute. Filipino and American flags waved in unison under a clear sky as the band played taps.
The anniversary served as a reminder of the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines. “Our shared experience, fighting side-by-side 80 years ago, continues to provide meaning and focus for the modern U.S. and Philippine alliance,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
The DPAA mission underscores the importance of preserving history while bringing comfort to families still searching for answers. As the ceremony concluded, attendees placed wreaths near the speakers, their respectful silence blending with the quiet dignity of the disinterment team—a poignant symbol of remembrance and hope.
The Manila American Cemetery is the largest ABMC cemetery in the world. It is the final resting place of approximately 17,000 American service members and commemorates almost 36,300 individuals missing in action or lost at sea whose names are engraved on the Wall of the Missing. Among those, 505 bronze rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.