A contingent of wounded veterans and their families trooped to the testimony table Wednesday, and one by one, gave tearful gratitude to the promise of a new Purple Heart memorial planned for the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.
On the agenda for the County Council meeting was $9,999 in contributions from county coffers to pay for the project. Three West Hawaii council members — North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff, Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha and South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David — each used $3,333 of their contingency fund to pay for the monument.
“This just means a lot to me and a lot of the veterans,” said Tracy Bennedson, a Gold Star mother who lost her son, Robert, in Afghanistan.
“I know a lot of guys that didn’t make it back,” added Tony Montoya, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
Each council member at the beginning of the fiscal year received $100,000 in a special contingency fund. The money can be distributed to county departments and nonprofits, but each allocation must be approved by the council.
The monument will be placed near the pavilion at the back of the cemetery, across from a POW/MIA monument and ash garden already in place. Modeled after a monument erected early last year in Hilo, the 3,000-pound India red granite monument pays tribute to recipients of the Purple Heart.
“Recipients of Purple Hearts, they have earned it by loss of blood, limbs and life,” said Gaylene Hopson.
She said the money, added to the $4,000 raised by the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Association, is enough to have the monument completed in time for the military decoration’s 100th anniversary next year.
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after April 5, 1917. It was preceded by the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth.
Eoff, who spearheaded the contributions, said the association had worked for years to collect their portion. She wanted to see the project to fruition.
“It will be a very important feature in the cemetery,” she said.
Kanuha agreed.
“I’m glad to be able to support such a worthy thing at our West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery,” he said. “I’m glad to have a small part in that.”
David said she grew up in the Vietnam era and she was painfully aware of all the sacrifices made by veterans during that war.
“Lots of my friends and classmates were a part of that,” she said. “I really, really appreciate all the sacrifices you have made, and it is my honor to support this worthy cause.”
Veterans seeking membership in the Military Order of the Purple Heart must provide proof of the medal’s award with a copy of either their discharge document or the order of the medal’s award. Associate membership also is available to lineal descendants, spouses, parents, siblings and adopted children of living or deceased Purple Heart recipients, and the same proof is required.
The organization’s website is at www.purpleheart.org.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
