Guam thoroughfare officially named Ben Blaz Memorial Highway in honor of CHamoru Marine

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Route 3 in Dededo has been officially designated the Ben Blaz Memorial Highway following an unveiling ceremony on Monday.

The road was designated in honor of the CHamoru Marine and national hero through Public Law 36-85, authored by Sen. Duenas, ensuring that one of Guam’s most storied sons will be remembered for generations to come.

“Brigadier General Ben Blaz fought for Guam in war and in peace,” said Gov. Leon Guerrero. “He carried the weight of our history on his shoulders and used it to lift our people higher, from the battlefields of the Pacific to the chambers of Congress. This highway will now stand as a permanent reminder of his courage, conviction, and sacrifice.”

The ceremony comes just one week after Guam marked its 81st Liberation Day and as the island prepares to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Organic Act, making this tribute to General Blaz especially meaningful.

Blaz was 13 years old when World War II reached Guam. During the Japanese occupation, he was forced to labor, planting rice, building airstrips, and digging trenches.

He lived to see Guam’s liberation and used that experience to fuel a life of service. After graduating from Notre Dame, he became a commissioned Marine Corps officer and joined the 9th Marine Regiment—the very unit that helped liberate Guam.

He later made history as the first CHamoru Marine to achieve the rank of Brigadier General and went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he became a powerful voice for Guam.