Flame burns for lost comrades
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kiyomi Yonamine was one of eight Korean War veterans who lit a candle last night during the 18th annual Sunset Memorial Service.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The service, sponsored by the Fort Shafter Post 10276 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and held at the Armed Forces Eternal Flame near the State Capitol, honored all veterans who died in service of their country, and focused on those who died five decades ago in Korea.
War veterans Thomas Tanaka, left, Roy Sugiyama, center, Leonard Kling, right, and James Ward, top center, saluted yesterday during the playing of taps at the 18th annual Sunset Memorial Service. Gov. Ben Cayetano delivered a memorial address at the service, which was at the Armed Forces Eternal Flame mauka of the Capitol.
But when Yonamine lit his candle and stood back to salute it, the name of one man dominated his thoughts.
"Theodore Takafuji," he said afterward. "My buddy."
Takafuji and Yonamine grew up in Hawai'i, went to school together and joined the Army together. They went to Korea, and found themselves in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.
Shadows of memories played on Yonamine's face as he stood near the candles and eternal flame, and thought back to the good friend who wanted only to make it home to his family.
"He was a jeep driver, for the commander," said Yonamine, who had himself become a prisoner of war. "He was nearly frozen to the jeep."
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
After 50 years the memories of Korea are still vivid, Yonamine said, and come in nightmares. It was the same for veterans of wars that came before Korea, and it is the same for those that came afterward.
Boy scout Dean Shiraishi distributes flags that will be placed on graves at Punchbowl for Memorial Day ceremonies today.
Yonamine said there isn't much to do about it, other than try to stay busy. He had this advice for men and women now in the service of their country:
"You serve your country well in the military, and hope you can continue to serve your country well as a civilian," he said.
Gov. Ben Cayetano gave the memorial address during the ceremony, as he has for the past seven Memorial Day weekends. A joint services color guard presented the flag as an Air Force band led the group in patriotic song.
Also yesterday, the Boy Scouts put lei and flags on the graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
The Mayor's Memorial Day Service will be held there today at 8:30 a.m.
A public ceremony will also be held at 7:30 a.m. at the Arizona Memorial Visitors Center, and at 1 p.m., the Governor's Annual Memorial Day service will be held at the Hawai'i State Veterans Cemetery in Kane'ohe.
