Museum reveals heroes in photos
An exhibit opens today honoring more than 100 recipients of the Medal of Honor
A PHOTO EXHIBIT featuring the lives of more than 100 Medal of Honor recipients opened yesterday and provided families an opportunity to spend time together while learning important lessons.
"This is a great opportunity to take to build strong values and teach them about history," said Carol Tano, who brought four of her children with her to view the nation's first traveling photo exhibit of those who earned the nation's highest honor for valor under fire.
"It's especially important, now that they are all getting older and going their separate ways, that we try to fit doing something all together like this into their busy schedules," she said.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The "Visions of Valor" exhibit opens today at the Hawaii State Art Museum, featuring 100 portraits from photographer Nick Del Calzo depicting Medal of Honor recipients. From let, Mayumi Tano, 15; her brother Bryce, 22; sister, Emi, 17; and brother, Jarem, 12, looked through the Medal of Honor book yesterday as the display was being set up.
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Although residents were allowed to view the "Vision of Valor" exhibit at the Hawaii State Art Museum yesterday, the official opening ceremony is at 2 p.m. today. Local military leaders and five living Medal of Honor recipients with ties to Hawaii will attend.
The public can view the display for free through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, the museum will be closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, which gives the public only four more days to see it.
The exhibit features a majority of living recipients who have ties to Hawaii such as Hawaii servicemen Tommy Norris and Ken Stumpf, and Oahu residents Shizuya Hayashi, Barney Hajiro, Allan Kellogg Jr. and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye (who will not attend the ceremony).
"I feel a certain affinity to him (Hayashi)," said Tano, who is a Pearl City resident, as is Hayashi. "It's interesting to find out the stories of everyday heroes that are living among us."
All of the pictures in the exhibit were taken within the past 18 months by Colorado's renowned portrait photographer Nick Del Calzo, who used a mixture of darkroom developing techniques.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Hawaii Medical Service Association, TRICARE and TriWest Healthcare Alliance, which provides health care for military families in more than 20 states.
David McIntyre Jr., TriWest president and chief executive officer, said he felt it was important to bring the exhibit to Hawaii because there is such a large military population here.
"It's a very important part of our culture, especially since many of our ancestors were affected by the wars," Tano's 17-year-old daughter, Emi, said.
McIntyre said, "This is a chance to expose the life and story of these true heroes, not the movie or rock stars that so often today's youth look up to. These are individuals who sacrificed their lives for that which we all hold so dear, freedom."
Although Hawaii residents will only be able to view 24 photographs, they can learn about the 100 of Medal of Honor recipients from an accompanying book.
The complete "Vision of Valor" exhibit is on permanent display at the Pentagon.
'VISION OF VALOR' EXHIBIT
The photo exhibit will be on display today, tomorrow, Friday and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hawaii State Art Museum. Admission is free to the public.
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