OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – American Samoa
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – May 18, 2007)
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Governor Togiola Tulafono attends
His Highness Malietoa’s funeral in Apia

(APIA) - GovernorTogiola Tulafono and First Lady MaryAnn Tulafono todayattended the funeral service of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, who died on May 11th at the age of 95.

“For all of Samoa, never before has the passing of a father-figure made an impact of this magnitude,” said Governor Togiola after heand the First Lady laid a wreath in front of his casket inside the Parliament building. “His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II was more than just the Samoa Head of State.

He was the Father of Samoa. He embodied the true Samoan spirit of humility, grace, wisdom, respect and peace. And that is how we will all remember him. It has been a blessing, an honor and a privilege to have known this great man.

”Governor Togiola joined an assembly of Pacific nation leaders on the Parliament grounds, Malae i Tiafau, that included His Majesty Siaosi Tupou V – King of Tonga, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand, Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery, and a host of dignitaries from around the Pacific and the world, in a solemn farewell to His Highness who served as Samoa Head of State since independence in 1962.

In a ceremony that blended Samoa Police honor guard, resounding tributes and proclamations, and hero of Samoa praise of greatness, His Highness Malietoa’s body was laid to rest in a crypt at Mulinu’u alongside his father Malietoa Tanumafili I.