The Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin’s 19th annual Veterans Appreciation Service and lunch is slated for 9 a.m. Nov. 1.
All veterans, spouses, family and friends, regardless of religious preference, are invited to gather in unity and diversity to honor and appreciate those men and women who served in the armed forces and their families.
Featured speaker will be retired Army Lt. Col. Delbert M. Nishimoto, the son of Japanese immigrants who was born and raised in the plantation communities of Hakalau and Ninole where his family operated a grocery store. Nishimoto attended J.M. Ross School and graduated from Laupahoehoe High School and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Community College. He was employed by Hawaii County and the state of Hawaii, from which he retired in 2000 after 36 years of service.
Nishimoto was called to military active duty with the 29th Infantry Brigade in May 1968 and served in Vietnam in various infantry officer positions and finally as the operations officer with the 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. Upon his return from Vietnam, he continued his military service with the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry of the Hawaii Army National Guard. He commanded an infantry rifle company, and in 1988 assumed command of the infantry battalion.
With financial assistance from the G.I. Bill, he attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo and graduated from City University of Seattle. He is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and also the United States Army Infantry School, Brigade and Battalion Command Course at Fort Benning, Ga.
In March 2005, Nishimoto was hired as the East Hawaii field representative for the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. He is married to Lauren Lee Fong of Hilo.
Lunch prepared by the BWA will be provided free to veterans and their spouses during the appreciation service. For other attendees, tickets can be purchased in advance for $1.
Contact the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin office at 961-6677 if you are planning to attend.
The Board of Spiritual Affairs, chaired by Valerie Galacgac and Corliss Yamaki, look forward to everyone’s participation in this auspicious event to honor and remember all who served.
