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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Punchbowl set for 'very special day'


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tammy Duckworth

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Tammy Duckworth, the McKinley and University of Hawai'i graduate who lost her legs in the Iraq war and now is an assistant secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will be among the dignitaries at the Memorial Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

It will run from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday and is open to the public.

"This is a very special day to remember and to honor all the members of our military who have given their lives for us," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a statement. "We will never forget the tremendous sacrifices that so many have made."

Also scheduled to attend are U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka; U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono; Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command; and Hawai'i Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Robert Lee.

More than 35 veterans organizations will participate in the presentation of a wreath to honor fallen comrades.

The invocation will be delivered by Chaplain April Bright, an Army captain with the 45th Rear Detachment.

The benediction will be delivered by Bishop Kuka Toleafoa, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Moanalua 2nd Ward. Toleafoa, a chief warrant officer 4, served in the Army for more than 23 years, including three deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Hannemann will deliver the keynote address.

Members of the Honolulu Fire Department will sing the national anthem. Other musical guests will include the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Honolulu Boy Choir.

The 199th Fighter Squadron, Hawai'i Air National Guard, will conduct a flyover in the missing man formation.