HANAPEPE — Monday was special for Joel and Jenny Madrazo of Anahola. This was the first time they attended Memorial Day services since their son, First Lt. Nicholas Madrazo, was killed by a roadside bomb on Sept. 9 while supporting
HANAPEPE — Monday was special for Joel and Jenny Madrazo of Anahola.
This was the first time they attended Memorial Day services since their son, First Lt. Nicholas Madrazo, was killed by a roadside bomb on Sept. 9 while supporting combat operations in the Parwan province of Afghanistan.
Wearing “Our Hero” T-shirts emblazoned with a portrait of the fallen Marine, Jenny was acknowledged as the newest Gold Star, said Bill Honjiyo, the event emcee.
“This is something special,” Jenny Madrazo said. “Since our son died, Memorial Day takes on a whole new meaning.”
Johnny Rabasa, the keynote speaker at the services hosted by the Kaua‘i Veterans Council, said 647 soldiers have fallen in Afghanistan over an 8 1/2-year span.
“We take time today to honor all those who have served and offered the ultimate sacrifice,” said Johnny Rabasa, keynote speaker of the event, which was hosted by the Kaua‘i Veterans Council.
According to icasualties.org, there have been 687 U.S. casualties in “Operation Enduring Freedom” started Afghanistan in October 2001, and 4,300 U.S. deaths in Iraq.
Rabasa pointed to the number of casualties from previous conflicts; World War II saw 293,121 Americans killed in action, the Korean War tallied 33,741 American soldiers dying in action, and the Vietnam war claimed 47,615 American lives, Rabasa said. More recently, Desert Storm took 146 American lives.
In addition to the tallies of killed in action, Rabasa said, on Kaua‘i, one out of 10 people who live here are veterans, based on census reports.
“People who sacrifice their lives in service to the country deserve the utmost in honor and respect,” Rabasa said. “Memorial Day is the only day, with the exception of the passing of a dignitary, that the American flag is flown at half-staff. Once the service is concluded, the flag will be raised to full staff.”
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said in a letter read by Honjiyo, the youth of the nation has a lot to learn from the veterans and their experiences.
Every day should be a day we never forget, said Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.
“One of the aunties told me that,” Carvalho said. “Another said they were here from 7:30 this morning to be able to spend time near graves of loved ones to reflect and honor.”
Carvalho said it is our responsibility to never forget the deeds done by our veterans, and he is glad to see the many hands, including the Boy Scouts of America from Troops 148 and 83, that go into making veteran observances a success.
“When I see how many people come together to make something like this happen, I feel good to be the mayor of this island,” Carvalho said. “It is all of our responsibility to never forget.”
