Flags waved in the wind and taps was played for about 50 people in Hilo on Thursday as they honored 10 lives that were lost during the Vietnam War.
The soldiers served in the Hawaii National Guard 29th Infantry Brigade and made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969.
Delbert Nishimoto helped plan and organize the first ceremony dedicated to the 10 men listed on the memorial at the Lt. Col. Henry S. Hara Complex Building in the Keaukaha Military Reservation.
Those honored were 1 Lt. John Kauhaihao, Sfc. Edward Loo Jr., Sgt. Wilfredo Andrada, Sp. 4 Rodney Fukunaga, Sp. 4 Larry Leopoldino, Sp. 4 Frank Longakit, Sp. 4 Alberto Milar Jr., Pfc. Dennis Panis, Pfc. Glenn Shibata and Pfc. Dennis Silveri.
Vietnam War field medic and former Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim gave the keynote address and urged the audience to teach future generations about how the U.S. military has given citizens freedom.
“I’m begging us to be better. We have failed in teaching the youth of today why we are so lucky to be here and what we have,” Kim said. “It’s our job to honor these veterans and recognize the sacrifices made by so many.”
While the 10 names were read at the ceremony, Kim also mentioned the importance of visiting the other Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial in Wailoa River State Park.
According to Kim, about 51 Big Island men lost their lives in Vietnam, and about the same amount died in the Korean War.
“I ask of us here to better in teaching and showing appreciation to those who have served and who are serving,” Kim said. “Freedom came with the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. They are the reason we can sit here in peace.”
Nishimoto hopes to make the ceremony an annual event and was excited by the amount of people who came out for the first one.
“Every time I passed this memorial, I thought about putting a ceremony together to honor them,” Nishimoto said. “I’m so thankful for everyone who came to show such a big support for our veterans. This is a very welcomed feeling.”
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
