Puna Hongwanji to hold special veterans service

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Puna Hongwanji Mission invites the community to honor area war veterans at its annual special Interfaith Memorial Day Service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, in the Centennial Memorial Garden fronting the temple in Keaau.

Puna Hongwanji Mission invites the community to honor area war veterans at its annual special Interfaith Memorial Day Service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, in the Centennial Memorial Garden fronting the temple in Keaau.

The Hawaii County Band will perform at 9:30 a.m. Wayne Nishijima will be the guest speaker.

“We would like to encourage all the families, relatives and friends of veterans from the Puna district who were killed in action to attend the service,” said spokeswoman Jan Nakamura. “Again, we are focusing on the fallen soldiers who gave their lives so we could have our freedom and peace in this world.”

These veterans are: World War II — Stanley Cabral, Yuzo Hayashida, John Hernandez, Seiji Higa, Isamu Kanetani, Yutaka Kawamoto, Morio Mizumoto , Frank Mugihira, Shoichi Nakahara, Tadao Nakamura, Mitsuru Ochiai, Eishin Oshiro, Seikichi Oshiro, Kazumi Tsutsui and Alfred Veriato; Korean Conflict — David Aspili, Julio Figueroa, Yoshimi Fukumoto, Isaac K. Hale, Koichi Moriwaki and Paul K. Ura; Vietnam War Moses I. Kuahiwinui Jr., George G. Luis, Gilbert Olivar, Hayward K. Peleioholani and George S. Salema; Iraq-Afghanistan Conflict — Ray M.J. Fuhrmann II.

“These men gave their lives for our freedom and democracy. The public is invited to join the families of the departed solders, veterans groups and members of the Hongwanji,” said Nakamura.

This event is hosted by Puna Hongwanji Mission. Refreshments will be served in the social hall after the service. Please call the temple at 966-9981 for more information.