WAIMEA – Representatives from the three high school volleyball teams were on hand Saturday afternoon when Waimea High School head coach Bobby Kamakele coordinated a special 9/11 tribute as well as a special remembrance for all of the National Guardsmen
WAIMEA – Representatives from the three high school volleyball teams were on hand Saturday afternoon when Waimea High School head coach Bobby Kamakele coordinated a special 9/11 tribute as well as a special remembrance for all of the National Guardsmen being deployed to Iraq.
As strains of “America the Beautiful” filled the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea, Bill Arakaki, the school’s principal, reminded each of the athletes to play hard as that is the true tribute to those who are working towards peace in the world.
Special game adjustments had to be made to accommodate the program, and despite having a bye, members of the Kapa‘a High School volleyball teams bussed over to the Waimea campus to be part of the tribute. For the service, the JV games started at 2 p.m. with the varsity contests following the tribute.
Ms. Joyce Evens served as the mistress of ceremonies, working her magic from behind the scorekeepers’ desk while the ceremonies took place on the stage and in the area fronting the stage.
Members of the LDS choir provided live entertainment for the short ceremony that centered around the athletes and fans observing a moment of silence for the victims of the 9/11 tragedy as well as to remember those who will be involved in the deployment to Iraq.
Kaua‘i mayor Bryan Baptiste, who normally attends volleyball games, was joined by several other elected officials who joined the student athletes in their patriotic tribute.
The Marine Corps League of Kaua‘i coordinated with Kamakele so each of the three high schools would receive American flags that will be flown for the duration of the deployment.
