05/25/2026
Memorial Day Message
This Memorial Day, we gather in solemn reflection to honor the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of Filipino Americans who gave their lives in service to the United States. As members of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, an organization rooted in compassion, service, and healing, we carry forward not only our profession, but a legacy of unwavering dedication to humanity in all its forms.
Today, we pay tribute to these heroes, whose lives represent the profound contributions of Filipino Americans in uniform, individuals who stood not only as protectors of freedom, but as embodiments of service deeply aligned with the nursing calling to care, to sacrifice, and to serve beyond self.
We also honor Captain Jennifer M. Moreno, a trailblazer who exemplified extraordinary bravery and selflessness. On October 6, 2013, while serving in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, CPT Moreno was killed in action by an improvised explosive device during combat operations. A member of the Cultural Support Team under U.S. Army Special Operations Command, she was among a select group of women chosen to bridge cultural divides, gathering vital intelligence from Afghan women. Her mission required not just skill, but empathy and trust—qualities deeply familiar to every nurse. In her final moments, she disregarded her own safety to help others, embodying the ultimate sacrifice. Her legacy is one of compassion in the face of danger, and courage in the service of peace.
We remember Sergeant First Class Reymund R. Transfiguracion, born on May 20, 1982, in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He answered the call to serve early in life, enlisting in the Hawaii National Guard in July 2001. A motor transport operator, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 to 2006. His commitment to duty extended across continents and conflicts. On August 12, 2018, at the age of 36, Sgt. 1st Class Transfiguracion succumbed to wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His journey from the Philippines to the battlefields abroad reflects the immigrant spirit of resilience and courage, a life lived in service to others.
We honor two young soldiers, Corporal Emilie Marie Eve Bolaños, 23, of Austin, Texas, and Sergeant Isaac John Gayo of Los Angeles, California. Both were members of the 101st Airborne Division, participating in a nighttime training exercise when a tragic crash occurred on March 29, 2023. Their lives were filled with promise, commitment, and dedication to duty. Though lost in training rather than combat, their sacrifice underscores a powerful truth: every moment in service carries risk, and every service member stands ready to give all for a cause greater than themselves.
We remember Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, a 54-year-old U.S. Army Reserve logistics veteran from Sacramento, California. In March 2026, during a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East, CWO3 Marzan was among six American soldiers killed in a drone strike at a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. His decades of experience and leadership reflect a lifetime dedicated to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of those he served beside. His sacrifice reminds us that even behind the front lines, through logistics, coordination, and support, service members bear immense responsibility and risk.
Together, these stories form a tapestry of courage, sacrifice, and identity. They remind us that Filipino Americans have long stood at the intersection of caregiving and courage, whether in hospitals, communities, or on the battlefield. The same values that guide nurses, compassion, resilience, and a deepcommitment to humanity, are reflected in these heroes’ lives.
As we honor them today, we also reaffirm our own calling. As nurses, we heal. As Filipino Americans, we remember. And as members of this proud community, we carry forward a legacy not only of service, but of sacrifice.
May we never forget their names.
May we always honor their legacy.
And may we continue to serve with the same courage and compassion that defined their lives.
With deepest gratitude and remembrance,
This Memorial Day and always.
Marlon Garzo Saria, PhD, MMOAS, RN, AOCNS, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, FADLN, FAAN
