FORT RILEY, Kan. -- President Thomas Esang "Tommy" Remengesau Jr., of Palau, met with Soldiers and citizens of Palau living in the Junction City, Kansas, and Fort Riley area June 10 at the Geary County 4-H/Senior Center.
Remengesau's visit served as a meet-and-greet for Palauans in the area, keeping them up to date on current matters in Palau and giving Remengesau the opportunity to pay his respects to the men and women serving in the U.S. military stationed at Fort Riley.
"I wanted to have a chance to meet some of the Fort Riley troops and thank them for serving not just the U.S., but Palau too," Remengesau said. "We have citizens spread out all over the U.S. It made sense for me to visit here because of our sons and daughters at Fort Riley and I have family here."
Palau is an island country with a population of nearly 18,000 people. It is in the western Pacific Ocean and contains approximately 250 islands, which form the western chain of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia. The capital, Ngerulmud, is on the island of Babeldaob, in Melekeok State.
Kedelaol Remengesau, nephew of Tommy Remengesau and currently a dispatcher for the Fort Riley Police department, was stationed at Fort Riley with 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, when he left the Army in 2008. He originally joined the Army because of his childhood heroes and the educational opportunities the Army provided him with.
Kedelaol said he decided to stay in Junction City because of the friendly atmosphere and safe environment it provided for his family. He thought his uncle's visit was greatly important because it lets the Palauans here know they are special to their country.
"I think it shows Palauans here that they do matter," Kedelaol said. "He is the first (politician) to visit here. It made us feel special, a part of the process, the Palauan community. He is a president who will go where you are."
Palauans in attendance were not just limited to the Fort Riley and Junction City area. Some came from Nebraska, across Missouri and Colorado, Deputy Chief of Staff for Palau Rebluud Kesolei said. Kesolei felt this visit was important because it allowed him
and Remengesau to see how their citizens were living in the U.S.
"They're happy, in fact," Kesolei said. "It was good to see that."
Palauan citizens are able to work, reside in and join the U.S. military through the Compact of Free Association. Through the COFA treaty, Palauan citizens are able to migrate freely to and get an education in the U.S. In exchange, Palau allows the U.S. to lease land in their country for military purposes, Kesolei said.
"It's been very positive," Kesolei said. "Not only have they built their skills, been educated, they have been able to help their families back home."
Remengesau said the relationship with the U.S. has brought stability and a sense of security to Palau, as well as education opportunities to Palauan citizens they otherwise may not have had.
The opportunities in training and education provided by the U.S. military, Remengesau said, makes for "a win-win situation for Palau and the U.S. It's everyone's dream to get an education."
Sgt. Williander Ngotel, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., joined the Army after the attacks on America on 9/11. He said 9/11 did not affect the U.S. only, but Palau as well. He expressed excitement over the President's visit and was grateful to be hearing about issues in Palau.
"It's important because even though we live, work and go to school here, we still have interests back home," Ngotel said. "We still want to know what's going on, it still affects us."
Following Remengesau's interests in seeing how his citizens lived in the U.S., he said he wanted to address a major change in the waters of Palau. Remengesau has converted about 80 percent of Palau's waters into sanctuaries for reefs, fish and sharks. The total size of the sanctuaries is roughly 600,000 square kilometers. Palau is now the first nation in the world with a sanctuary for sharks, Remengesau said.
This change also means major changes to Palau's economy. An emphasis is now being placed on tourism and tourism regulation for the nation, Remengesau said.
He added that he wanted to inform Palauans in the region on what is happening back home.
"I wanted to get feedback on what their issues are," he said.
Remengesau said he was grateful he took the time to visit Junction City and meet with his citizens. He said the area reminded him of Palau.
"It reminds me of home because it's open, you see a lot of single stories, everything is green, clean and the people are very friendly," Remengesau said.
Remengesau said he hopes to visit Fort Riley soon too.
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