Hagåtña, Guam – The Office of the Governor, led by Acting Governor Josh Tenorio, launched the 75th anniversary of the Organic Act of Guam with a flag raising ceremony held at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex. The event marked 75 years since the Organic Act was signed into law in 1950, establishing Guam’s civil government and granting U.S. citizenship to the people of the island.
Leaders from all three branches of government gathered with agency heads, cultural leaders, and members of the public to commemorate this milestone and reflect on the journey of self-governance that began with the Organic Act.
In his remarks, Acting Governor Tenorio used the moment to call the people of Guam to action—not only to remember the past, but to take ownership of the future.
“It did not fix everything. It did not give us the measures of civil rights and equality as we had hoped. To be clear, it’s not a constitution written by us, for us, nor does it grant us full representation in the nation we help defend,” said Acting Governor Tenorio. “But we mark this day because it was a beginning. It cracked open the door to self-governance— and we stepped through. Generation after generation has pushed that door open wider.”
He added, “Now, 75 years later, it is our turn. Our responsibility. Our duty. We must move the work forward— stand taller, reach farther, and believe more boldly in what Guam can be. Not just for us, but for our children, and their children after them. We are both the inheritors of this foundation and the architects of what comes next.”
The ceremony included a roll call of the government agencies established as a result of the Organic Act—an acknowledgment of the progress made possible through civil governance and a tribute to the people who built it.
The 75th anniversary is being recognized through a series of events throughout the month, designed to engage the public in meaningful conversations about Guam’s political development, cultural identity, and shared vision for the future.
To watch the event in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7STx6oNVK8M&t=1533s
