By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
A cannon salute sends smoke clouds billowing inside the
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl today
in remembrance of America's war dead.
M E M O R I A L _ D A Y Mayor hits
Punchbowl desecrators
Harris rips the national cemetery vandals
By Gregg K. Kakesako
in his Memorial Day address
Star-BulletinA place of "peace and honor" cannot be desecrated and vandals cannot "tarnish what our heroes left us," Mayor Jeremy Harris said today as he honored veterans and their families at Memorial Day ceremonies at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. With 3,500 tiny American flags snapping in the bright Hawaiian sun, Harris, in the mayor's annual Memorial Day address, recalled how vandals on April 19 and 20 "crept in by night like cowards to seven cemeteries throughout our island" to leave "a trail of hate."
The vandals spray-painted red obscenities on the walls at Punchbowl's lookout, its chapel walls, throughout the Courts of Missing, along the columbarium face, and on granite grave markers. Although the cemetery is clean today, no one has been arrested or charged.
"This went beyond assault upon defenseless dead," Harris said in his prepared remarks, "it was an act of terror directed at our souls."
However, Harris said "the initial outrage was soon replaced with focused commitment and determination as thousands of our citizens offered their support. The brass and marble gleam again, scrubbed clean by loving volunteers."
He recalled how 40 island businesses and individuals pitched in to donate $35,000 for a reward fund while others contributed to a separate $21,000 cleanup fund.
"Even children responded to this tragedy," Harris added, "including 19 sixth-graders from Mary Ann Chester's class at a school in Hilo, who each gave a dollar."
"We as a community treasure and revere the sacrifices of those who rest at Punchbowl and other hallowed ground. They paid with blood and suffering to preserve our freedom and our very civilization. What the vandals didn't understand is that they can't desecrate this place of peace and honor."
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Staff Sgt. Melchor Lazo stands ready as his men prepare
to fire a cannon during ceremonies held at Punchbowl today.
Harris went on to say: "The twisted group who violated these sites we cherish accomplished nothing in the end. No one can tarnish what our heroes left us. They cannot touch those values we all carry deep within."Looking out at the more than 3,500 grave sites Harris called upon the audience to dedicate themselves "once more to preserving this place of sacrifice and honor."
"But more importantly, we dedicate ourselves to preserve the values and the peace for which those who lie cradled here made the ultimate sacrifice. Dear God, let those values be embodied here for all future generations -- a place where all can come to share the spirit and the lessons that live at Puowaina."
During today's Punchbowl ceremonies, eight veterans organizations presented floral wreaths honoring those entombed in the cemetery.
Assisting Harris with the mayor's wreath was Lt. Gen. Joseph DeFrancisco, deputy Pacific Forces commander at Camp Smith.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Boy Scout Frank Comito, 10, pays homage to a
Medal of Honor recipient buried at the National
Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Yesterday, more than 2,000 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts decorated the graves with American flags turning the manicured green lawns into a sea of fluttering flags. The scouts also distributed more than 70,000 Hawaiian leis donated by island school children and other organizations.Before Harris delivered his address, a rifle salute was offered by soldiers of the Schofield Barracks 25th Infantry Division, and the Royal Hawaiian Band played "Taps."
Following Harris' speech, Nalani Olds sang "America the Beautiful" as volleys of cannon fire from M-109 howitzers from the 25th Division echoed throughout the crater with a 21-gun salute.
As the smoke from the last cannon salute shattered the stillness of the cemetery, four F-15 fighter jets from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron peeled off overhead in the traditional "missing man" formation.
Other Memorial Day events today included an early morning ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial with Pearl Harbor survivor and retired Chaplain Joe Morgan, a retired lieutenant commander, giving the invocation and benediction. "Echo Taps" was played by the Pacific Fleet brass quintet.
This afternoon, Adm. Joseph Prueher, Pacific Forces commander, and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono were to speak at the governor's annual Memorial Day ceremony at the State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.
The 21-gun salute was to be fired by Marines from Kaneohe Marine Corps Base which also was to provide the helicopter flyover. The Hawaii Army National Guard's 111th Band was scheduled to play with a parade of flags presented by veterans organizations.
