HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Hawaii's military played a leading role in the Hawaii's Memorial Day celebrations through participating in numerous ceremonies Sunday and Monday.
The events began Sunday with the Nichirenshoshu Hokkeko ceremony at the Punchbowl. This ceremony featured a 20-minute Buddhist chant in honor and remembrance of fallen servicemembers, a joint-service colorguard and a Marine bugler playing Taps.
Afternoon sun greeted the Pacific-American Foundation's Roll Call of Honor in a remembrance ceremony that featured a joint-service colorguard and the reading of scrolls bearing the names of Pacific Island American veterans, Hawaiian veterans, Samoan veterans and Chamorro veterans.
As evening closed in and darkness began to fall, thunderous noise echoed from the Punchbowl Crater.
Hundreds of motorcycles, from Harleys to Hondas, made their way into the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as Vietnam Veterans post 10583 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars prepared to conduct their Memorial Day Candlelight ceremony.
The ceremony featured a joint-service color guard, invocation by a Navy chaplain, patriotic music by the Army's 25th Infantry Division Light Band, a keynote address by Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti, commander, Marine Forces Pacific, a Marine 21-gun salute and a helicopter missing-man formation by pilots of C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment from Wheeler Army Airfield.
"Greater love hath no man that would lay down his life for his friend," said Lt. Gen. Libutti. "It is sad that we have likely not seen the end of the names etched in these walls in the name of freedom."
As the evening came to a close, candles flickered and engines revved in a loud, moving tribute to the fallen comrades of these Vietnam vets.
Bright sun greeted the morning of Memorial Day at the Punchbowl for the Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony.
The ceremony featured a joint-service color guard, a 21-gun salute in honor of fallen servicemembers and a Memorial Day address by Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris.
The events shifted to the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery for the Governor's Memorial Day Ceremony.
Warm and sunny weather created a relaxed atmosphere for the ceremony featuring a musical prelude by the 111th Army Band of the Hawaii Army National Guard, a parade of flags by veterans organizations from the VFW to the Chosin Few, a joint-service color guard, a keynote address by retired army general Fred C. Weyand, a Memorial Day address by Hawaii Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano, a 21-gun salute by the 154th Hawaii Air National Guard, echo taps by the 111th Army Band and a missing-man formation flyover by pilots of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463.
"This is a time to honor our fallen heroes, the men and women who have given their lives in the name of our freedom," said Cayetano.
Perhaps Gen. Weyand best summed-up the purpose of Memorial Day and the mood of the weekend when he said: "We give thanks to those who have served and sacrificed for this great nation of ours."