American, Filipino servicemen honored on Veterans Day

MANILA — American and Filipino servicemen who gave their lives in the fight for freedom were honored on Saturday at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial as the United States and the Philippines commemorated Veterans Day 2026.

A memorial tribute paid homage to the soldiers and freedom fighters who fought for the country’s liberation from years of conquest and tyranny.

Their names are etched on the cemetery’s memorial walls as a lasting reminder of their courage and sacrifice.

Both governments expressed gratitude for the veterans’ service and reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals they fought to defend.

“Their sacrifice reminds us, freedom is never free. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your service. Our nations owe you an enormous debt of gratitude. To the current and future generations of the American and Filipino Military Personnel, shouldering that legacy of sacrifice and commitment to freedom, your mission remains as important as ever,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Lee Lipton said.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also underscored the responsibility to honor not only those who died in service, but also the veterans who continue to live among us.

“Today, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. However, to those who continue to live amongst us it is but right and fitting that, we honor them with care. However, the greater sacrifice is to continue and not waste the sacrifice they made. That is the ultimate duty,” Teodoro said.

For living veterans, the occasion was also an opportunity to look back on their years of military service and the people they served alongside.

“Each and every veteran will tell you, working with everybody, working with the people. You have a good job in the military, you go to deployments, but the thing that you miss the most, especially when you retire, is the people that you worked with,” said retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Edgardo Onas.

They also encouraged young Filipinos considering a career in the military to see service as both a challenge and an opportunity to serve a greater purpose.

“If they decided to go into the military services, [it would be] an honorable journey and it is a challenge. But you’ll find satisfaction in serving, serving in one’s country, serving duty, God, and country,” said retired Master Sergeant Danilo Deguzman Jr., a former presidential support specialist.

The ceremony included speeches and a wreath-laying tribute in honor of the fallen servicemen and women.