Posted on: Thursday, May 27, 2004

EDITORIAL
Please help provide lei to mark Memorial Day

Thousands of schoolchildren over the years have perpetuated a cherished Island tradition — stringing plumeria lei for the graves at Punchbowl on Memorial Day. Other residents, including senior citizens, have been a major part of this annual effort.

But in recent years, the lei have been harder to come by. Officials at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific say that is partly because there are fewer flowering trees on O'ahu. They also cite seasonal demand for lei because of graduations and weddings.

Whatever the reason for the drop-off, it would be a shame to see this tradition taper off.

This year the city is seeking 50,000 lei to be placed on graves at Punchbowl. The Mayor's Memorial Day Service at Punchbowl begins at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Originally set aside as a commemoration of those who died in the Civil War, Memorial Day honors Americans who gave their lives in any war while serving the country. And now our patriotic holidays have taken on even more meaning after Sept. 11.

It's time to reinvigorate this special marking of graves at Punchbowl and the State Veterans Cemetery at Kane'ohe. It doesn't take many flowers to string a simple lei. They should be 20 to 24 inches from end to end and should be tied.

Lei may be dropped off tomorrow from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Ala Wai Community Park; Halawa, Wai'anae, Wahiawa, Waiau or Waipahu district parks; Makua Ali'i and Kane'ohe senior centers; and at fire stations in Kalihi, Waipahu, Waialua, KÍne'ohe, Kailua, Waimanalo and Hawai'i Kai. They also can be dropped off at the Municipal Building from 8 a.m. to noon tomorrow.

It's not much to ask to honor those who gave up their tomorrows so that we might live in freedom.