In an outpouring of appreciation, hundreds gathered under sunny, breezy skies yesterday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl to pay homage to those who served in the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf wars and Afghanistan.

Archie Loo, 87, and James Ward, 79, were among the dwindling number of Korean War vets who came to participate in the Veterans Day ceremonies. Fewer still were World War II veterans.

"I'll come to as many of these events as the good Lord will allow me to," said Ward, who, as a Marine corporal in Korea, survived the brutal, 17-day Chosin Reservoir Campaign in 1950.

"Our veterans fought so that people of all nations could be free to speak openly, to worship as they please, to receive an education, to own property, to enjoy the benefits of their labors, and to help choose their own government," said keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Keith J. Stalder, commander of Marine Corps Forces Pacific.

"On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank all of those of you who have served our nation in times of war and in times of peace. Our country and our liberties continue to flourish because of your efforts," Stalder said.

Those attending included numerous decorated military officers and enlisted personnel from past wars, who joined Stalder in paying tribute to today's military men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

Stalder added: "I don't want to forget the immense contributions of our citizen soldiers, members of the Army and Air National Guard and the Reserves, who serve both the state of Hawai'i and our great nation."

The Navy Pacific Fleet Band provided music, and the Pearl City Community Church Choir sang patriotic songs. In addition, the ceremony included a rifle salute, taps, and a missing man flyover by F-15 jets from the Hawai'i Air National Guard.

Gene Castagnetti, director of the Punchbowl cemetery, served as master of ceremonies.

"On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, America pauses to reflect on this same hour, day and month of 1918, when the guns fell silent across Europe," said Castagnetti, a retired Marine colonel. "At that time, World War I was characterized as the war to end all wars. Here it is, some 91 years later, and unfortunately, that vision has not come to fruition."

Castagnetti described the occasion as a moment for "Americans to remember that the only reason we're free out here is because the veterans were willing to pay the price."

He was one of several who said the focus on veterans seemed higher yesterday than during past Veterans Day ceremonies.

James Hastings, director of the Veterans Administration's Pacific Islands Health Care System, agreed. Hastings was among the dozens representing various veterans service organizations who lined up for the Laying of Wreaths portion of the ceremony.

"I've been coming to these Veterans Day events for many years," said Hastings after adding the VA wreath to a display of some three dozen floral arrangements near the speakers' podium. "And this is the biggest outpouring of recognition for the veterans that I've ever seen in this community."

Hastings speculated that those added sentiments of support might be a result of the incident at Fort Hood in Texas a week ago in which a rampaging gunman killed 13 people at the base.

Coming less than a week before Veterans Day, Hastings said, "I think it raised awareness of what veterans have contributed to our society."

The fact that a high proportion of contributing veterans in this country are homeless was not lost on Hastings. However, he pointed out the challenge that his boss, Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Veterans Administration, issued just last week: to end veterans' homelessness within the next five years.

"That's our goal," Hastings said. "The goal he's set for us is to take 125,000 homeless veterans off the streets in the next five years. That's our estimate of how many we've got right now.

"It's a tragedy. And we're going to do everything we can to bring them in. And we're putting more resources against it. But, unfortunately, I am sure that five years from now we're still going to have some homeless veterans. But not as many."