Of the 17 task force delegates who debated the Natatorium War Memorial issue, only Oahu Veterans Council President Fred Ballard voted in full accord with the interests of Hawaii's warriors. The other six delegates, identified as “;veterans”; by the chairman, either voted “;not present”; or in favor of the administration's proposal to preserve a token of our reverence for the supreme sacrifice paid by Hawaii's World War I veterans.

It is interesting to note that those who shared President Ballard's sentiment were not identified as veterans by the task force chairman. We thank them for their service to our dearly departed comrades in arms and their survivors.

Dennis Egge is president of NAUS, Hawaii Chapter (HI-1), Honolulu