New Plaque Unveiled at Bloody Ridge National Historical Park

August 17, 2026 News Desk

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06/08/2026 – Honiara, Solomon Islands – A replacement monument plaque has been unveiled at the Bloody Ridge National Historical Park, reflecting the collective efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and its partners to preserve and develop this significant World War II historic site.

The unveiling ceremony was held on 6 August and coincided with the visit of Mr. Scott Freund, who accompanied the Valor Tour Group to Solomon Islands to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the Guadalcanal Landings.

Team Leader of Valor Tours group, Mr Scott Freund (left) handshakes with MCT Tourism Technical Advisor, Mr. Bjorn Svensson, after the new plaque was unveiled.

The replacement plaque was made possible through funds raised by generous individuals through the connections and network of Mr. Scott Freund. It replaces the original plaque, which was stolen shortly after Bloody Ridge was declared a National Historical Park in 2017.

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Bunyan Sivoro, acknowledged Mr. Freund and his supporters, on behalf of the Solomon Islands government, for their generous contribution towards replacing the plaque.

Members of Valor Tours group, together with staff of the Ministry and Tourism Solomons during unveiling of the monumental plaque at Bloody Ridge.

Mr. Sivoro said the Ministry greatly appreciates the support and recognises its significant contribution to the government’s plans for the continued development of Bloody Ridge.

He also highlighted the significant improvement in the security situation at the Park, noting that full-time rangers are now stationed at the site to protect and manage the area.

Members of Valor Tours group pose for a photo at Bloody Ridge National Heritage Park.

“With full-time rangers now manning the site, the security situation has improved significantly, and we can be assured that the history of the original plaque being stolen will not be repeated,” Mr. Sivoro said.

He added that the Ministry looked forward to continued cooperation with Mr. Freund and his team in exploring further opportunities to develop the park.

Team Leader of the Valor Tours Group, Mr. Scott Freund, said the contribution reflected the commitment of his supporters to honouring the service and sacrifice of the servicemen who fought at Bloody Ridge.

Two reenactors from US and Japan, who are part of the Valor Tours group.

“It was exciting visiting places like Bloody Ridge. As we go home, we will bring these experiences back and share them with people in the United States to encourage them to visit Solomon Islands,” Mr. Freund said.

MCT Tourism Technical Advisor, Mr. Bjorn Svensson, also expressed appreciation to Mr. Freund and his supporters for their contribution, describing the replacement plaque as an important contribution to the ongoing development of the park.

He noted that while many challenges had been encountered since 2017, the development of Bloody Ridge continues to progress.

A replica of WW II bunger built at Bloody Ridge National Heritage Park.

Bloody Ridge National Historical Park has become one of the flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, reflecting the government’s commitment to preserving Solomon Islands’ heritage while creating tourism opportunities and economic benefits for local communities.

Mr. Freund and the Valor Tours Group are visiting Solomon Islands to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the US landings on Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Florida Islands. The group has visited Bloody Ridge, Tulagi and other parts of Central Province, where some of the fiercest battles of World War II were fought.

Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism