LIHUE — Many veterans won’t be able to physically attend today’s Veterans Day observance at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery where Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will deliver the keynote address. But Jeffrey Pears of Kauai Hospice and Jim Jung, chaplain for the
LIHUE — Many veterans won’t be able to physically attend today’s Veterans Day observance at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery where Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will deliver the keynote address.
But Jeffrey Pears of Kauai Hospice and Jim Jung, chaplain for the American Legion, Post 54, Kapaa, spearheaded a drive to honor those veterans, many homebound or in retirement facilities, through a program coordinated by the hospices of the country and the Veterans Administration.
Pears and Jung led a group Tuesday, including U.S. Marine Corps League members Norberto Garcia and John Chapple of Alaska, to a special recognition ceremony for 12 veterans at the Garden Isle Healthcare and Rehabilitation center at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
Each of the veterans was presented with a VA pin and a certificate honoring their service to the country. Those who could not make the gathering, which also included patriotic music and the Pledge of Allegiance, were treated to a visit by the delegation, who presented the honors in the veterans’ private suites.
Thomas Arakaki was not just the first name on the alphabetical roster. He is one of only three known surviving veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion who served during World War II. The others are Ikito “Ike” Muraoka, who was honored at the Regency at Puakea, and Monte Nishie, who was visited by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. after participating in the annual Veterans Day parade Saturday in Lihue.
Joining Arakaki, other honorees included Thomas Finn, David Koerte Jr., John Lustman, Iwao Nonaka, Anthony Sentes, Howard Shigemoto, Clarrence Arruda, Hartwell Blake, Satoshi Kaneshiro, Ed Fournier and David Okinaka.
Pears and Jung’s campaign of honoring veterans started with the International Day of Peace in September when Jiro Yukimura and Norman Hashisaka, both veterans of the Military Intelligence Service, were presented the VA pins and certificates before appearing at the International Day of Peace gathering.
The pair stopped at the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital on Monday to honor and pin 12 veterans. Moving on to the Regency, the delegation paid tribute to 18 veterans before arriving at the Garden Isle Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Veterans at the Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital will be honored at ceremonies starting at 2 p.m. today.
