KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Veterans Council gave people an opportunity to thank and honor the thousands of Kaua‘i men and women who have stepped forward to help their country. Rob Sanchez was the chair of the annual Veterans Day parade
KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i Veterans Council gave people an opportunity to thank and honor the thousands of Kaua‘i men and women who have stepped forward to help their country.
Rob Sanchez was the chair of the annual Veterans Day parade that attracted hundreds of people to the sidewalks of Kapa‘a Saturday morning in the event that precedes the annual Veterans Day services which will take place Tuesday.
That service, held on the 11th day of the 11th month will start at the 11th hour at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery.
An armistice was signed on the 11th hour on Nov. 11, 1918 ending the hostilities of World War I. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued his Armistice Day proclamation, and in 1938, Congress passed a bill dedicated to the cause of world peace and the honoring of Armistice Day.
Following World War II, veterans were concerned that “Armistice” simply meant “truce,” and tried to correct this. Their effort led to the creation of Nov. 11 as a day to honor all veterans, and extending it to honor the men and women in active military service as well.
Rep. Ed Reese, during a Veterans Day program in Kansas in 1953, was so impressed with the proceedings that he introduced a bill to change the name to Veterans Day. That finally happened in May 1954.
During the annual parade which had special traffic patterns in effect, Norman Hashisaka, who volunteered to serve with military intelligence before being inducted into service during World War II, was the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade, being driven by his son Ried and accompanied by his wife Mabel, daughter Ann and grandsons Justin and Liam.
Judge Trudy Senda, whose parents are also veterans, was acknowledged as the Honorary Grand Marshal, getting a seat next to Bill Honjiyo, the emcee of the formal program that followed the parade through Kapa‘a town.
Brigadier General Myron Dobashi of Lihu‘e, beginning his military career through the Air Force ROTC program in 1965, and continuing with the National Guard where he was the assistant adjutant general who also served as the commander of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, served as the reviewing officer of the event.
Dominique Pascua, the daughter of Roxanne and Vance Pascua of Hanapepe, was also crowned as Miss Kaua‘i Veteran 2008-2009. Pascua, a senior at Waimea High School, is an honor student and is a major with the Waimea Jr. ROTC. She is also the battalion commander.
Pascua will be on hand Tuesday to greet dignitaries when the Kaua‘i Veterans Council opens the gates to the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery for its annual Veterans Day service.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
