KAPA‘A — Capt. Nicholas Mongillo, commanding officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Mana, said the highest privilege he has is to serve alongside veterans. Mongillo served as the Reviewing Officer for the 44th Annual Veterans Day Parade and
KAPA‘A — Capt. Nicholas Mongillo, commanding officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Mana, said the highest privilege he has is to serve alongside veterans.
Mongillo served as the Reviewing Officer for the 44th Annual Veterans Day Parade and festivities celebrating the 237th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.
“Veterans are humble individuals who never seek thanks for the work they did,” Mongillo said. “There are bad people out there who would take our freedom in a breath. Thank you for giving so much because it is your service, which made this country great.”
Hosted by the Kaua‘i Veterans Council, the parade wound through Kapa‘a town, prefaced by a caravan of classic cars and hot rods, many owned by veterans.
“We’re doing a rally tomorrow with a truck run,” a reservist said while preparing to drive members of the United States Marine Corps League. “We’ll be at the Veterans Day Service in Hanapepe as a stopping point to offer our flowers, too.”
Earlier in the morning, Thelma Oda, president of the Kapa‘a Hongwanji Buddhist Women’s Association, recently celebrating 100 years of service, headed a group of women, including high school students, in creating Lonesome Grave floral decorations. The decorations will be used to decorate graves at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery for the Sunday service, which starts at 11 a.m.
“The men are in the kitchen preparing for the plate lunch and baked good sale, which also takes place Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m.,” Oda said. “The ladies are finishing the Lonesome Grave project because it’ll be delivered this afternoon.”
Among the hundreds of people who lined Kuhio Highway from the Kapa‘a Shopping Center to the Kapa‘a Beach Park, patients from the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital waved their American flags and marveled and cheered the participants, Nancie Pigao explaining they have residents who are veterans and are family of veterans.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. took time to participate in the parade honoring the veterans and active armed forces members, inviting his departments and the Kaua‘i County Council to join him in offering a proclamation on the celebration of the USMC 237th anniversary.
In a press release, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono said, “Semper fiedlis. The United States Marine Corps’ Latin motto, ‘always faithful,’ represents more than two centuries of exceptional service, sacrifice and loyalty by Marines to each other, and to our nation. Since two battalions were first formed to fight for American independence, the Marines have demonstrated distinguished bravery, from the battle of Iwo Jima to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. As home to the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific at Camp Smith, Hawai‘i continues to play an important role for the Corps and in our national security. We are forever grateful to our active Marines, Marine Reservists and civilians serving at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, on the Mainland and around the world for protecting our freedoms.”
Staff Sergeant James Charles Carter Jr. and Sergeant Joseph Fredrick Finn Sr. served as Grand Marshals for the parade, being joined by several Humvees carrying Marine Corps League members.
Jackie Taylor, a senior at Waimea High School, made her debut as the 2012 Miss Kaua‘i Veteran, escorted by her father, Richard Taylor, and driven by her uncle, SSG Lloyd Agrade of C Troop 1/299 Cavalry who has deployed to Baghdad, Kuwait and the Philippines in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Aure’lie D’Couto, a student at the St. Catherine School in Kapa‘a, was also introduced by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as the winner of the Patriot Pen award, which will be forwarded for state consideration.
Other students, including those from the Kapa‘a High School band, the Kapa‘a High School and Waimea High School Jr. ROTC and the Kaua‘i High School Band, made time in their busy schedules, participating in the parade before assuming duties at the First Hawaiian Bank Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Division II football championships, which unfolded at Vidinha Stadium.
The public is invited to the annual Veterans Day Service, which starts at 11 a.m. today at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery hosted by the Kaua‘i Veterans Council.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
