LIHU‘E — Contributions for the third Operation Military Appreciation are still being accepted, said Tony Ricci, the Sons of Hawai‘i Motorcycle Club event chair. “More than ever, every single dollar is cherished,” Ricci said. “For our military personnel serving overseas,
LIHU‘E — Contributions for the third Operation Military Appreciation are still being accepted, said Tony Ricci, the Sons of Hawai‘i Motorcycle Club event chair.
“More than ever, every single dollar is cherished,” Ricci said. “For our military personnel serving overseas, it’s an extra minute on the phone home; that extra special something in a package from home; that little extra to take away a little stress because the paycheck hasn’t made it over from the other side of the world, and the bills are due.”
This is the third year the motorcycle club, in conjunction with Garden Island Motorsports, Kaua‘i Harley-Davidson, Grove Farm Co., and support from the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce and other Kaua‘i businesses, is hosting Operation Military Appreciation, a fundraising and awareness event dedicated to supporting Kaua‘i’s active military personnel and veterans.
Ricci said Kaua‘i has more than 80 men and women serving overseas, and OMA funds go to the Family Readiness Support Groups dedicated to providing assistance to the spouses and children of the active military personnel.
A portion of the proceeds are also set aside to help the Veterans Honor Guard Unit, which provides services for Kaua‘i Veteran Council events as well as for families of veterans.
“The funds raised at OMA helps the Family Readiness Support Group to send phone cards and care packages to the overseas military personnel as well as help here at home by arranging for outings for the children and other expenses families require for unexpected household expenses while their spouses are away,” Ricci said.
He said it is often overlooked that the military does not pay as well as the job that those who serve left behind, and coupled with the transfers in deployment, paychecks may be delayed getting back to the spouse for several weeks.
During the formal military ceremony that will welcome back the convoy of motorcycle riders from the participating clubs, the focus will be honoring seven remaining WWII Philippine Army Soldiers who served with the U.S. Army under Gen. Douglas MacArthur against the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.
These soldiers were promised that if they fought alongside the U.S. Armed Forces, they would be treated as U.S. Army veterans. Following the war, the promise was rescinded by Congress, but President Barack Obama has decreed that the “promises to these brave men are to be kept and honored.”
Two of the seven are survivors of “The Bataan Death March” where troops marched for five or six days with no food and just sips of water. More than 10,000 Philippine and U.S. soldiers died from the treatment.
The formal ceremony is scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m. at the Grove Farm Park located behind the Kaua‘i Harley-Davidson in Puhi.
Gates to OMA are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition to the formal recognition of the Filipino soldiers, the public is invited to share in live entertainment and a variety of motorcycle “Biker” games, and browse through the various food and vendor booths, inflatable waterslides, and silent auction.
“Our mission with OMA is to help alleviate some of the worries and fears of our military families while their loved ones are deployed,” Ricci said. “But more importantly, it is to share with them our aloha and support from their Kaua‘i ‘ohana; that we all appreciate their patriotic sacrifice for us.”
For more information, call Ricci at 652-7140, or e-mail atmkauai@aol.com.
