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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – American Samoa
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Saturday, November 24, 2007)
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 Gov. Togiola honors Sgt. Lui Tumanuvao at funeral service
(UTULEI) - Governor Togiola Tulafono and First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono today joined U.S. Army Brigadier General John Peabody and Bishop John Quinn Weitzel of the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago to farewell Sergeant Lui Tumanuvao at a funeral Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Ili’ili.
Governor Togiola honored Sergeant Lui Tumanuvao in the presentation of the American Samoa flag and a Medal of Government Service, which was received by the Tumanuvao family.
In his remarks at the funeral Mass, Governor Togiola expressed the sincere gratitude of the people and government of American Samoa to Mr. Kolio Tumanuvao and Mrs. Monica Etuale Tumanuvao, parents of Sergeant Lui Tumanuvao, and Mrs. Selia Tumanuvao, Sgt. Tumanuvao’s widow.
GOVERNOR TOGIOLA’S REMARKS
I offer words of comfort to the entire Tumanuvao family. We say farewell to our Toa o Samoa - Sgt. Lui Tumanuvao, who gave his life so that freedom will continue to exist. Sergeant Tumanuvao answered the call to serve. And we say thank you for his service to our people. We will never forget his service to America and American Samoa. We will never allow that to happen. And only God offers compensation. So, we must all keep the faith and keep it strong.
In offering our gratitude and compassion, I am reminded of the smell and feel of the fragrance of love. In order to smell it, you must first feel it. And on these occasions, you can feel it because of the outpour of expressions of love. And when you feel it, you’ve smelled it, because it provides comfort and strength to help with healing, and lighten the burden and weight of sorrow.
To Sergeant Lui Tumanuvao’s loving parents – Monica and Kolio, and his dear wife –Selia, and children, and all the families: I truly know that mothers, fathers and spouses feel the pain of losing a child. And I offer the collective strength of American Samoa so that you can be strong to keep Lui’s spirit alive as a devoted son, loving husband, proud father, encouraging brother, supportive uncle, enthusiastic cousin, schoolmate, and good friend.
Please accept these words of comfort from your church, your village, your government and your island home in hope that you can smell the fragrance of love to fill the void in your hearts. We honor Lui’s memory and his contribution to freedom. May God bless Sergeant Lui Tumanuvao. God bless America. And God bless American Samoa.
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