U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who lost his right arm on an Italian battlefield 65 years ago, told a Memorial Day audience yesterday that “;the price of honor comes at a supreme sacrifice”; whether in a conflict nearly seven decades ago or in Afghanistan today.

“;It should serve as a reminder to all of us of the tragedy and darkness of war and the glory, courage and patriotism,”; said Inouye, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for service with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

“;Today is a day of reflection and a day of recollection,”; Inouye said at morning ceremonies at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. “;Today is a day of remembrance. So let us pause to appreciate the freedoms that we enjoy every day.”;

He also paid tribute to the more than 186,000 Americans still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and the more than 5,400 who have died there since the conflicts began.

“;We may espouse beautiful rhetoric about the importance of democracy, but they live it and they die for it,”; added Inouye, the second most senior member of the Senate.

Before a crowd of several hundred and more than 33,000 gravestones, each decorated with a small American flag and a lei, Inouye said “;the true test of honor”; is the way Americans treat returning veterans, especially those who have been wounded.

“;It is easy to wave the American flag as we send our brave troops to faraway lands. However, the true test of our patriotism and pride must be in our willingness to provide them with our best equipment, the best armor and training to do their jobs and return home safely. This is the least we can do.

“;The true test of our appreciation and accolades is how we can welcome our brave warriors home. This is the painful lessons America learned from Vietnam. No matter how unpopular was our nation's involvement in war, our sons and daughters must not be blamed and made to suffer deep scars in their hearts and minds, some of which have never healed.”;

Inouye joined Mayor Mufi Hannemann at the annual Punchbowl Memorial Day ceremony, hosted annually by the city.

In his sixth and last Memorial Day speech as mayor, Hannemann also recognized the World War II service of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Battalion, saying they “;exemplify the American spirit of courage, sacrifice and dedication.”;

“;These brave soldiers, most Americans of Japanese ancestry, proved themselves time and again on the battlefields, overcame adversity and discrimination at home and became some of Hawaii's most revered leaders.”;

Bob Arakaki, who was a member of the 100th Battalion's Baker Company, noted “;it's harder”; to get the aging members of his unit to attend these ceremonies.

“;Most of them are not too well in health,”; said Arakaki, 87, who served as president of the Club 100 veterans group from 2006 to '08.

Earlier in the one-hour ceremony, Inouye, Hannemann, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and 50 representatives of various service and veterans organizations placed floral wreaths.

The Memorial Day ceremony closed with a 21-rifle salute by the Hickam Air Force Honor Guard and the playing of taps by Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Weinger from the Pacific Fleet Band.

Four F-15 Eagle combat jets from the Air Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron roared over the crowd in the V-shaped “;missing man”; formation as an aerial salute to the fallen troops.