LIHUE — Everyone is invited to the Veterans Celebration that takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Vidinha Stadium soccer field on Saturday.
The Kauai Veterans Council, in partnership with the Rice Street Business Association and a generous donation from Capt. Andy’s, will offer the opportunity for veterans and active military service to be honored in a sea of craft vendors, live music and family-friendly activities.
“All of our veterans are special. But these veterans that fought in Korea and Vietnam represent the last time American men were drafted to fight,” said retired U.S. Air Force General Mary Kay Hertog, commander of the Kauai Veterans Council.
“We only have a handful of surviving Korean War veterans, and it is only right we pay tribute to them while we still can. The Korean War is referred to as the ‘Forgotten War’ because it was sandwiched between World War II and Vietnam and was known as an ‘armed conflict’ because Congress never declared war.”
Lasting three years from 1950-53, it was the deadliest war of the Cold War, Hertog said.
“The war resulted in more than 3 million casualties, most of them civilians from North and South Korea. The United States suffered more than 33,600 battlefield deaths, and 103,000 injured in action. As of 2023, there are more than 7,400 men still Missing in Action, or MIA, including five young men from Kauai.”
Recently celebrating her 100th birthday, the celebration will also pay tribute to the sister of one of the Kauai MIA, Akiyo Matsuyama, who is the sister of Private First Class Takeshi Sasaki.
“Akiyo has made it her life’s work to try and find out what happened to her brother, and to keep his memory and other MIA alive to ensure they are not forgotten,” Hertog said. “At 100 years old, she has never given up her mission to find closure for her family and the families of other MIA soldiers.”
Hertog said the celebration will also honor the island’s Vietnam veterans, men and women who served and fought in one of the most unpopular wars this country was involved in — 1,700 people from Hawaii served in Vietnam.
The U.S. lost more than 58,000 in combat, including 276 Hawaii people, who were killed in action.
“This war divided our nation, and when our veterans returned home, many were not treated well by their fellow Americans. It was not until March, 2017 when the Vietnam Veterans Recognition Act was signed by the President that our veterans were officially recognized and celebrated. Many of our Vietnam veterans still battle physical and emotional scars more than 50 years later,” Hertog said.
“It took the Veterans Administration decades to acknowledge that exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals have resulted in the deaths of our veterans. In fact, five times more Vietnam veterans have died from diseases as a result of toxic exposure than died in combat. Many of Vietnam veterans are still fighting the war because they still suffer from post traumatic stress and may not have sought treatment for it. It wasn’t until 1980 that post traumatic stress was even acknowledged as a mental health diagnosis.
“It is well past time we honor those Korean and Vietnam War veterans, and their families, for their sacrifices. That is the intent of this celebration.”
The Veterans Celebration is made possible through donations from United HealthCare Services, Matson, Sudz Carwash, Luis and Eddie Soltren Construction Company, Sign Art and Earthworks Pacific Construction.
Every veteran in attendance will get a free lunch from the food truck of their choice at the event.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
