KAILUA-KONA — The true meaning of the day is reserved for reflection, and gratitude. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — The true meaning of the day is reserved for reflection, and gratitude. It can be easy to lose sight of that every Memorial
KAILUA-KONA — The true meaning of the day is reserved for reflection, and gratitude.
It can be easy to lose sight of that every Memorial Day, a holiday weekend that unofficially kicks off summer, but more than hot dogs and picnics, the day should capture the genuine spirit of paying respects to soldiers who defended the country in times of peril.
“The fallen that we remember and honor today forfeited all that they cherished so that you and I, their loved ones, and all of America could continue to enjoy the fruits of freedom and democracy,” Jim Hussey, American Legion Post 20 Commander-elect, told a group of more than 100 gathered at a ceremony at West Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery No. 2 on Monday.
Hussy’s reminder for the day, which caused him to choke up, was shared by other speakers at the 11 a.m. service that also featured a 21-gun salute and taps. And those who gave so much, Hussy added, were normal people who responded to a bigger calling.
“The Americans we honor today are just like you and me, regular folks that came from the cities, towns and villages across America,” he said. “But they all came united with one purpose. To serve, to fight, to win.”
Joey Sanchez, a Vietnam Legacy group supporter, attended the event for the fifth year in a row. Holding an American flag, he said it’s a small way he can show support. He didn’t serve in the military, but appreciated those who did.
“It’s just a way to give back and keep on remembering,” he said. “We don’t know what it was like (in conflict), but this is one way to show them we support them.”
Barbara Kossow also attended the ceremony, as she does every year, and after the 90-minute service she walked the grounds placing flowers at the graves of the several people she knew buried there, always an emotional experience for her.
“It’s the emotion you feel, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, those are the days you remember the fallen,” she said. “It has special meaning for me.”
The service came less than a week after the Purple Heart Memorial was unveiled at the cemetery, and ended with hot dogs and picnic food for all the guests. But the message from the event focused on the true meaning of the day.
“It’s the veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech,” Roman Malecha, American Legion Post 20 chaplain, said during his closing remarks. “And last but not least, it is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.”
