HANAPEPE — The sun-beaten appearance of the pavilion at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery had always struck a wrong note with Major Victor Aguilar, the director of the Waimea High School Junior ROTC program. “Major always said ‘Why can’t they paint
HANAPEPE — The sun-beaten appearance of the pavilion at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery had always struck a wrong note with Major Victor Aguilar, the director of the Waimea High School Junior ROTC program.
“Major always said ‘Why can’t they paint it so it would look nice for events like the Veterans Day, or Memorial Day service?’” said Sgt. Major Keith Castanada, while volunteering with the Mokihana Aquatics qualifying swim meet Sunday at the Kauai High School pool. “He got some paint from Andrea Abalos, so he’s going to help paint some of the worn areas with the cadets after they do a memorial service for veterans at the Kalaheo Missionary Church.”
Aguilar said getting the cadets to work on something like the sprucing up of the pavilion can’t be done during the week because the students are involved in so many activities which take up a lot of their time.
“This is my first community service on the outside,” said Maeve Jensen, a freshman Junior ROTC cadet. “I wanted to get out of the house, and I’m looking forward to having fun with this.”
The facelift to the pavilion comes in preparation for the annual Veterans Day Service which will take place Wednesday at the Hanappepe Veterans Cemetery starting at 11 a.m.
“I come to the service each year,” said Melia Okura, a senior at Waimea High School. “When I lived in Washington, I never used to get involved with veterans events. But my dad grew up here, and when we moved back here in 2006 after my grandma had a stroke; our family is involved with the veterans. My mother and I work on the Lonesome Graves project with the church to make sure all the graves have flowers, and I participate with the Junior ROTC program. One year, we grew a whole bed of marigolds for the Lonesome Graves project. I have an uncle who’s buried here.”
Aguilar said he picked up cookies, burgers and some hot dogs so the group could have lunch at Salt Pond Beach Park following the project.
Jensen said Veterans Day means people should take time to honor all of those fallen individuals who gave their lives for our country.
“It’s also a time to celebrate the lives of those who protect our freedom,” she said.
