LIHUE — The Kauai Veterans Council will host Memorial Day services Monday starting at 10 a.m. in Hanapepe. The services are held at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery and community organizations pitch in to help prepare for the event. Marissa Sandblom,
LIHUE — The Kauai Veterans Council will host Memorial Day services Monday starting at 10 a.m. in Hanapepe.
The services are held at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery and community organizations pitch in to help prepare for the event.
Marissa Sandblom, vice president for The Grove Farm Co., said employees were delighted to sew more than 80 fresh flower lei in honor of veterans for Memorial Day.
Floral material for the lei was collected from the various Grove Farm properties near the Puhi office.
The completed lei was picked up for distribution at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery by Sgt. Doug Gayagas.
Aida Cruz of the Kauai Veterans Center said starting at 9 a.m., Kala Kreations will offer 400 free roses, one for each family and one for the family to place on a grave of a loved one.
“America’s greatness comes from its citizens who have given their lives in service to our country,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., who met with members of the Kauai Veterans Council, veteran representatives from different veteran organizations, and County of Kauai employees who are veterans.
“On Memorial Day, we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the United States, and the principles upon which our nation was founded.”
In observance of Memorial Day, Gov. Neil Abercrombie ordered national and state flags be flown at half-staff at state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard from sunrise to noon Monday.
President Barack Obama also issued a proclamation declaring Memorial Day “as a day of prayer for permanent peace,” requesting that governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, direct that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff until noon, and for the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes during this period.
“We can honor those we have lost by living up to the ideals they died defending,” Obama said in his proclamation. “It is our charge to preserve liberty, to advance justice and to sow the seeds of peace.”
Obama also designated the hour beginning in each locality at 11 a.m. as a time to unite in prayer. He asked all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance starting at 3 p.m. local time.
Cruz said Memorial Day has been established on the last Monday in May so communities across the nation, including Kauai, can honor the men and women who died in service in the United States Armed forces.
