The community came together Saturday to memorialize Puna soldiers who died in combat defending the nation in the 76th annual Interfaith Memorial Day Observance.
About 50 people gathered at the Puna Hongwanji to honor the Puna lives lost during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq-Afghanistan conflict.
Charlotte Paez-Vargas laid flowers at the foot of the memorial outside of the hongwanji in honor of her cousin, Hayward Peleiholani, who died in the Vietnam War.
“I’ve come to these over the years, and it’s just so nice to be able to honor him like this every year,” Paez-Vargas said.
Family members and organizations laid flowers down at the foot of the memorial for every name called.
Different faith leaders led prayers to honor the lives lost in each war.
Pastor Alan Tamashiro from Puna Baptist Church prayed over the lives lost during World War II and the Iraq-Afghanistan Conflict, the Rev. Piilani Kaawaloa from Kamauloa O Ka Malamalama Hoomana Naauao prayed for soldiers lost in the Korean War, and pastor Robert Frick from Puna Covenant Church prayed for soldiers lost in the Vietnam War.
Deacon Jim Dougherty from the Holy Rosary Catholic Church read the Aspiration, while the Rev. Satoshi Ka‘imipono Tomioka from Puna Hongwanji closed the ceremony.
Pohakuloa Training Area Lt. Col. Kevin Cronin gave the keynote address and urged the community to keep honoring veterans and current military personnel by living a life with gratitude for their service.
“The freedoms we enjoy today are connected to their selfless service, and we must pay tribute to this sacrifice with our daily actions,” Cronin said in his address. “Currently, 1.4 million of the nation’s men and women serving today are honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their continued service to carry our freedoms forward.”
Cronin was asked to speak at the Interfaith Memorial Service and is preparing for the change in command at PTA, which will take place at the end of June.
“I’m grateful for community organizations, especially the hongwanji, for doing this. It’s so important to come together to remember and reflect, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” Cronin said. “I’m proud of the time and the work here in Hawaii, and this place has become a very special place to my family. Right now, I’m focusing on doing the best possible handover to my successor, and I know they will continue the good work.”
Some Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts attended the service with den leaders to take in the importance of the holiday weekend and honor the lives lost over the past decades.
“You don’t want kids to forget history, and especially with Boy Scouts, history is a big part of the program,” said Trent Klug, assistant bear den leader. “We teach duty to country and duty to God, and events like these are important to attend and talk about, so they can truly understand what it means to serve one’s country.”
The hongwanji hopes to have a new plaque honoring Ray Fuhrmann II and Kirk Takeshi Fuchigami Jr., who died in combat during the Iraq-Afghanistan conflict, and will add it to the memorial of names next year.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.