Kapa’a – Hundreds of Kauaians and visitors attended yesterday’s Veterans Day parade through parts of Kapa’a to show their patriotism, to listen to speeches and to watch military march units and bands. But the parade also provided time for fathers
Kapa’a – Hundreds of Kauaians and visitors attended yesterday’s Veterans Day
parade through parts of Kapa’a to show their patriotism, to listen to speeches
and to watch military march units and bands.
But the parade also provided
time for fathers and mothers to reflect on the sacrifices made by their sons
and other family members who served America during World War II, the Korean
War, Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War.
“They were there for freedom,”
said Michael Bandmann of Kapa’a, whose father served in the Army during World
War II and whose son is an Army soldier stationed in Arizona. “We are here to
do this because of what they did. We should be grateful.”
Lei Meatoga, who
is part Hawaiian and a Anahola resident, said she is proud that four of her
children served in Vietnam and the fifth served in the Persian Gulf
War.
She said she constantly worried about their safety when they were
overseas, and would never accept letters from them.
“I only took phone
calls. I wanted to hear their voices so that I knew they were alive,” she said.
“I cried when they left for war, and I cried when they returned
home.”
Waiting for the parade sent Iwalani Martin of Anahola back more than
25 years.
“This reminds me of the Vietnam War. I was 11 years old when I
heard that my cousin (Stanley Woodward, a U.S. Marine) died in Vietnam. It
brings back sadness, but it makes me realize the sacrifice he made for
us.”
The parade brought Navy veteran Lennox Blatchford of Corvallis, Ore.,
back to World War II.
Blatchford was assigned to Navy ships that brought
war materials to islands in the Pacific, including Guam and Kwajalein, that
would help end the war.
“He did his job, and I am glad he was given back to
me,” said his wife Ruth, who has been married for 60 years.
Wailua
resident Jamie Gilleran, said attending Veterans Day parades is part of a
“family tradition.” She said she has been to six parades on Kaua’i.
She
said she brought her 9-year-old son, James, to the parade so that he could
understand the sacrifices made by men and women military.
Michelle
Trautmann, a visitor from Germany, missed the Veterans Day parades on her last
four visits to Kaua’i, and made it a point to catch this one.
“America is
always present in problems throughout the world, and it is good to honor people
who fight for freedom,” Trautmann said.
Flags were positioned through the
parade route, but some Kapa’a businesses wanted to do more.
Tad Miura Jr.,
proprietor of M. Muira Store, bought extra flags to put on the storefront, and
Flowers and Joys taped paper flags on their windows.
Among the highpoints
of the parade was the recognition of Yukio Okutsu, a recipient of the
Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.
Okutsu
was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team — the most decorated fighting
unit in American military history — during World War II.
Military veterans
saluted him as he passed by them in a motorcade on Kuhio Highway. Okutsu, a
native resident of Koloa, now lives in Hilo on the Big Island.
Also
recognized was Yoshi Minami, at 107, the oldest “Gold Star Mother” in Hawai’i.
Minami lost her son T/Sgt. Yoshio Minami of the 442nd unit when he was killed
in action in Europe on Nov. 2, 1944.
During a ceremony at the Kapa’a Beach
Park, a birthday cake with a single red candle was served to Minami.
She
drew applause when she mustered the energy to blow out a single red 12-inch
candle planted in the middle of the cake.
In addition, James Kawamura, a
resident of Hanapepe, was recognized as a recipient of the Distinguished
Service Cross.
If patriotism was in the air, so was politics.
State
Adjutant General and Maj. Gen. Edward Correa Jr., who applauded veterans and
men and women now in uniform, served as a reviewing officer for the
parade.
Also in attendance were (Ret.) Brig. Gen. Irwin Cockett, (Ret.)
Navy Capt. Bob Mullins, a commanding officer at the Pacific Missile Range
Facility, Mary Thronas, former head of the Kaua’i County Council and former
Kaua’i liaison to three Hawaii governors, and Roy Nishida, Kaua’i liaison for
Governor Ben Cayetano.
Among the parade participants were Mayor Maryanne
Kusaka, members of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team,
U.S. Marines, the Hawai’i Army and Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, Korean
War veterans, the county Fire Department, American Medical Response, the Kapa’a
High School Junior ROTC, the best ROTC program in the state this year, the
Waimea High School Junior ROTC, the Jazz Raiders with the Kaua’i High School
Band, Boy Scouts Troop 133, Scout Girls Junior Troop 817 from Lihu’e, Girls
Junior Troop 150 from Kalaheo and Girls Junior Troop 851 from Lihu’e, Brownie
Troop 812 and beauty queens.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached
at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and lchang@pulitzer.net
