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Memorial held for Samoan tsunami victims

by Leyla Santiago
Sunday, October 25, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Members of Anchorage's Samoan community gathered Sunday to remember loved ones lost in the devastating tsunami that swept the island of Samoa last month. The brief memorial was held downtown at the First United Methodist Church.

"No matter what denomination you're coming from, this is a time we as Samoan people and Samoan Christians to be together and singing and pray together," Pastor Sailitai Manga said.

Manga says the Anchorage Samoan community uniting and standing together is an answer to his prayers, and that he is very excited about the number of people who showed up to support those who lost friends and family members in the tsunami.

He says the island of Samoa is doing very well, and is slowly picking up the pieces with the help of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross. The island is still experiencing the occasional small shake-up from minor earthquakes.

Since the tsunami hit, the Samoan community has organized a number of fundraisers. The Red Cross also has a tsunami disaster relief fund set up on their website.

Contact Leyla Santiago at lsantiago@ktuu.com