In honor of those who have served our country, there will be a community Memorial Day service held at 11 a.m. Monday at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kona.
Former West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Association president John Grogan said this year’s service will be managed by the Disabled American Veterans organization. Local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will be assisting in the patriotic event, as well.
Paul Graffe, whose father went missing in action during the Vietnam War, will be the guest speaker.
Following the hour-long service there will be a potluck luncheon. The public is invited to bring a dish and help themselves to hot dogs courtesy of the association.
There are about 17,000 veterans on the Big Island, Grogan said, with half located in Kona. The Memorial Day service at the cemetery usually attracts about 400 people, he said.
A few months ago concerns were raised as to whether or not the event would occur following a theft at the cemetery resulting in a $24,785 loss in equipment. Among the items stolen were tents used during the Memorial Day service.
Members of the association with the help of Rep. Cindy Evans, D-Kohala, North Kona, decided to throw a fundraiser to raise money to replace the stolen items. Their goal was $10,000, but thanks to a $20,000 donation, they raised about three-times what they needed for a total of $33,000, Grogan said.
Hawaii County Council also donated $2,000 for plants to go toward the cemetery, he said.
The theft occurred some time between 2 p.m. March 12 and 8:30 a.m. March 13 at the cemetery located on Queen Kaahumanu Highway between mile markers 88 and 89.
Police have since recovered a $17,995 dual-axle trailer in April, but the other items have yet to be located.
The case is being investigated as a first-degree theft.
Anyone with information about the theft or the location of any of the items should call the Hawaii Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Sean Smith at 326-4646, ext. 262, or email sean.smith@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Memorial Day schedule:
The Hele-On will be running a holiday schedule with a three bus route. For a complete schedule and information visit heleonbus.org.
All schools will be closed.
KTA in Kona will be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Kona Safeway will be open with the same hours.
The Sack n Save in Kona will have regular hours.
Kona’s Long’s Drugs will be open but the pharmacy will close earlier than 7 p.m.
All banks will be closed.
The U.S. Post Office will be closed
Garbage services will remain on schedule.
All county offices will be closed.
HELCO’s call center and walk-in payment offices will be closed.