Disabled American Veterans State Convention The Kaua‘i Chapter of the DAV will host the state convention, June 12-14, at the Aloha Beach Hotel. The DAV national commander, Raymond Dempsey, will be in attendance. The guest speaker for the banquet will
Disabled American Veterans State Convention
The Kaua‘i Chapter of the DAV will host the state convention, June 12-14, at the Aloha Beach Hotel. The DAV national commander, Raymond Dempsey, will be in attendance. The guest speaker for the banquet will be Mark Moses, state director for the Office of Veterans Services. All members of the Disabled American Veterans are asked to register for the convention.
The director of the VA Regional Office will be at the convention with counselors. All veterans are welcome to visit the counselors to ask questions, submit or discuss their pending claims. The counselors will be at the Aloha Beach Hotel on June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on June 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Although walk-ins are allowed, a veteran is encouraged to make an appointment by contacting Ed Kawamura at (808) 652-6706, or via the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, 246-1135.
Operation Military Appreciation Day
Lt. Col. William T. Honjiyo, U.S. Army (Ret.), president of the Kaua‘i Veterans Council, has confirmed that the family festival of events will be sponsored by The Sons of Hawai‘i Motorcycle Club, on June 27, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Puhi Grove Farm Park, across Kaumuali’i Highway from the Kaua‘i Community College campus.
The keynote speaker is Kylan Dela Cruz, who is the current deputy director for the county Department of Parks and Recreation. He was a former deputy county engineer for the Department of Public Works.
Dela Cruz is also a former non-commissioned officer of the U.S. Army of 24 years (21 years in the regular Army and three years in the Army National Guard.) He retired as a master sergeant while serving in the Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces.
In this event, he will focus his thoughts in the remembrance of veterans of all wars. Point of contact for this event is Tony Ricci, (808) 652-7147, or Bill Honjiyo via the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, 246-1135.
Veterans Roundup
On July 4 The Kaua‘i Veterans Council will be sponsoring a 4th of July celebration for all veterans and their families at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center in Lihu‘e. The event will begin at 10 a.m. There will be food, entertainment and prizes. We welcome all veterans and their families to join in the celebration of our national birthday. For more information, contact the Veterans Center at 246-1135. POC: Gary Inouye, at 332-9336.
Veterans Day Parade 2009 set for Nov. 7
It was officially announced that the 42nd Veterans Day Parade will be held on Nov. 7 in Kapa’a with the theme: “Honoring Korean War Veterans, ‘A Forgotten War.’” According to Robin Sanchez, Chairman of the Veterans Day Parade project, the keynote speaker for this event is Brigadier General Irvin Cockett, U.S. Army (Ret.). Cockett will also be the grand marshall, with Honorary Grand Marshall Royce Ebesu, a proactive member of the Kaua‘i Korean War Veterans Chapter. Cockett and Ebesu are Korean War veterans themselves.
Inivitational letters and applications will be mailed to prospective parade-participants within the next few days. Traditionally, prizes were awarded to the public with a pick-up truck as the major prize. As preliminary planning is underway to pursue more public participation, the pickup truck as a prize will be eliminated. More multiple prizes will be included to increase the awards.
For more information on this event, Robin Sanchez can be contacted at (808) 639-7472, or via the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, 246-1135. E-mail: robsanchez@hawaii.rr.com
• Anthony Hubahib, a Waimea resident and Waimea High School graduate, began his military career in 1956 with the Air Force. He served 18 years outside the continental United States, including two tours in Vietnam. He later returned to Kaua‘i where he retired with his family after 19 years in hotel hospitality services. He writes this monthly column exclusively for The Garden Island. He can be reached at hubahiba@msn.com.
