All who fight for freedom honored

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

From Normandy to Honolulu, Memorial Day held a special feeling this year as people paid tribute to men and women who served the cause of freedom.

Robert Hashida, who served as a helicopter crew chief for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, chatted with a fellow veteran before yesterday's Memorial Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Gov. Ben Cayetano encouraged Hawai'i's people "to reflect on the many sacrifices made by past and present generations to ensure a better life for all of us."

And Mayor Jeremy Harris told a crowd of about 1,500 people at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl that America's "gallant warriors" have always answered the call.

Yesterday, Hawai'i joined millions of Americans in remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can continue to reap the benefits of freedom, particularly in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"For more than two and a quarter centuries they've performed their duties nobly well," Harris said. "Let us pray this morning for a continued success of Operation Enduring Freedom, and for the safe return of our men and women in uniform when their work is done."

The services at Punchbowl were just one of many around the island.

There was one at the Arizona Memorial to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its dedication, a 21-gun salute at the Naval Submarine and Parche Memorial in Pearl Harbor, the annual ceremony at Hawai'i State Veterans Cemetery in Kane'ohe and at Magic Island, 16 canoe clubs and 1,000 Shinnyo-En members launched lanterns.

At Punchbowl, Sherry Martinez fed her foster children breakfast cereal out of plastic cups because they had left so early from their Kahuku home.

This was the first year she had brought her children along.

"Given the events of Sept. 11, there's a whole lot more meaning for me," Martinez said. "That was part of the reason I wanted the kids here. They don't often get a chance to understand the significance of Memorial Day.

"It's important for them to hear what it's all about."

Martinez was not alone in her sentiment. Even before the gates opened, cars lined up outside the gates to the cemetery.

Many who walked to the ceremony brought flowers along.

Glen and Diane Picknick flew from Kansas to witness the posting of the 50 state flags and hear the Royal Hawaiian Band at the Punchbowl ceremonies.

They had heard that each year Hawai'i comes together to honor those men and women who gave their life for freedom, Glen Picknick said.

This trip was planned long before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City, he said.

"I'm a vet, so I always know what Memorial Day is about," Picknick said.

"But today, this ceremony has more meaning to me than at other times."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.