Puna Hongwanji holds annual Memorial Day observance

For 77 years, the Puna Hongwanji Temple has memorialized the 29 Puna servicemen who were killed in action while defending the nation.

The community gathered on the front lawn once again Saturday for the annual Puna District Interfaith Memorial Day Observance.

Family members, loved ones and organizations laid flowers down at the foot of the memorial for every Puna resident’s life that was lost during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq-Afghanistan War.

Lt. Col. Tim Alvarado, the commanding officer at the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area, read a poem he wrote that honored the final moments of service members while serving as this year’s keynote speaker.

Different faith leaders led prayers to honor the lives lost in each war as well as the lives they left behind in Puna.

Deacon Ken Gwaltney from Puna Baptist Church led the prayer for the 15 soldiers who died in combat during World War II, Rev. Satoshi Ka‘imipono Tomioka from the Puna Hongwanji Temple led the prayer for the seven soldiers killed in action during the Korean War, Pastor Alan Tamashiro from Puna Baptist Church led the prayer for the five lives lost during the Vietnam War, and Deacon Jim Dougherty led to prayer for the two soldiers who lost their lives during the Iraq-Afghanistan Conflict.

The Temple hopes to soon have a plaque that honors Ray Fuhrmann II and Kirk Takeshi Fuchigami Jr., who died in combat during the Iraq-Afghanistan War, which will join the others currently part of its Centennial Memorial Garden.

The public is invited to honor the Hawaii Island service members who were killed in combat during Hilo’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony, which will begin promptly at 9 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Cemetery #2.