KALAHEO — In one of the corners leading to the Holy Cross Church, a tree stands festooned in yellow ribbons and yellow American flags. On closer examination, the American flags bear names with personalized messages, with the entire arrangement highlighted
KALAHEO — In one of the corners leading to the Holy Cross Church, a tree stands festooned in yellow ribbons and yellow American flags.
On closer examination, the American flags bear names with personalized messages, with the entire arrangement highlighted by “God Bless America.”
Dorothy Moura, one of the church’s members, explained that the tree was born shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorist events rocked New York City, Washington, D.C., the nation and the world.
Sgt. Maj. Walter Ventura, the son of Holy Cross Church member Patsy Ventura, was one of the first Americans to be deployed to Iraq when he left with 12,000 other troops as part of an engineering unit.
Ventura’s deployment was followed by the deployment of Charles William Boggs, Jr., the grandson of Monica Amorin, another church member, who left for a tour as a jet mechanic.
Those actions prompted the birth of the yellow tree when Moura got her husband Albert to seek out an appropriate “tree” to bear the names of those who are serving the country on the firing line.
“This is not for us,” Moura said. “This tree is for everyone. People come almost daily to add a name to a flag, or to hang a picture.”
The latest name to be added was that of Cory Soares, who had prayers dedicated to him on Sunday as he heads out to Iraq.
As the tree fills with yellow ribbons, flags, and pictures, Albert Moura is already anticipating the need to get another tree once this one fills up.
Ventura and Amorin each honed in on pictures of their relatives, and while holding on to those pictures, explained that Sgt. Maj. Ventura served a year in Iraq. “They came home on Father’s Day,” Patsy Ventura remembers. “Then, we went to visit him on Thanksgiving. Now, he’s stationed in Atlanta.”
Amorin’s grandson is now a corporal, his grandmother justifiably proud of his accomplishments. He also served a year before being transferred to San Diego, his current duty station.
Moura said the tree was born with the encouragement and help of the Rev. Christopher Keahi, who was pastor and resident minister at the time of the Sept. 11 tragedy, and the ladies give him the credit. But, the project was not limited to the trio, as Moura said her daughter Marlene helped by getting the yellow paper and creating the flags that people could write their names on along with their messages.
“We’re over here because they’re over there,” the ladies said. “We come every morning and say a prayer. Not just for one, or two, but for everyone who is over there.” This has been going on daily since the Sept. 11 tragedy, and Ventura and Amorin take turns tending to the floral arrangements at the base of the tree, on this date, anchored by a red-white-and-blue arrangement. Moura said they change the flowers according to the seasons — Easter lilies during spring’s Easter season, for example. Ventura said they started out with fresh flowers, changing them as needed, but soon, the flowers went to plastic, and silk, and now, the more permanent variety.
“People come every day,” Moura said. “And now, with the National Guard being activated, there are more people.” Ventura said that at one time, Jenny Yukimura (she’s not a church member) even invited them to breakfast, where she and Amorin were presented with a “I Make A Difference” ribbons which now decorate each of the ladies’ photos on the tree. “That was so nice,” Ventura remembers.
Ventura says that whenever her son calls home, he tells her, “Pray for all the young men and women over there.” As she left the tree, she said, “There are so many names (on the tree), and there are so many more (that are not on the tree).” This tree is for every one, and the ladies continue to pray.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
