2-day Schofield event to
welcome home troops

A two-day event will be held at Schofield Barracks next month to celebrate the homecoming of soldiers.

This will be the first joint military and civilian homecoming celebration for more than 10,000 troops since their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The event, called "Schofield Sunset in the Park: Homecoming for Heroes" and sponsored by the city, Army, Wahiawa Lions Club and a number of organizations and businesses, will be held from noon to 10 p.m. May 21 and 22 at Wheeler Army Airfield.

On May 21 there will be performances by Sonya Mendez, Frank De Lima, Brickwood Galuteria and Hapa. Carole Kai and Kimo Kahoano will also provide entertainment.

On May 22 the 25th Division (Light) Band Brass Quintet will perform in the early afternoon with Simplisity, the Krush and Jake Shimabukuro.

The celebration will also feature food from more than a dozen local eateries, as well as works from artists and businesses at a community marketplace.

Rides, games, pony rides and face painting will be available for children. A display of restored military vehicles will be featured by the Hawaii Military Vehicles Preservation Association. Classic and custom-made motorcycles from Hawaii and the mainland will be displayed by Street Bikers United Hawaii.

On Saturday the movie "Finding Neverland," starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, will be featured at sunset. On Sunday the movie "National Treasure," starring Nicolas Cage, will be presented.

For more information, call Jack Wiers at 438-0303, Doug Wheeler at 622-0181 or Steve Matthews of state Rep. Marcus Oshiro's office at 586-8505.