Archives for Memorial Day

Cable TV air dates for Natatorium Memorial Day observance

If you missed the Friends of the Natatorium’s 23rd annual Memorial Day observance, here’s your chance to see it. If you were there and want to record a speech or performance you found particularly memorable, here’s how. The observance was taped for cable TV and will air this week on ‘Ōlelo Community Media . It was a truly inspiring commemoration of the servicemen and women, especially those from Hawai’i, who have died for our country. Here’s when and where to see it: Natatorium Memorial Day Service Broadcast Schedule Tuesday, June 28: 1 p.m. on OAHU 52 Thursday, June 30: 12
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Categories: Events, Friends of the Natatorium, Memorial Day, News coverage, Uncategorized, and Videos.

Photos from the Natatorium's Memorial Day observance

Here are photos from Sunday’s wonderful, inspirational Memorial Day Observance, held for the 23rd year at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. Mahalo to everyone who attended; to our eloquent speakers Ron Oba and Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen; to our dedicated Marine color guard, rifle squad and bugler; to our Navy chaplain; to our singers, Rodney Cazimero and the Prince Kuhio Civic Club Chorale; to our dancers, Kumu Hula Olana Ai and Hula Halau Olana; to our Pledge of Allegiance leaders from the kindergarten class at Waikiki Elementary; and to all the many volunteers who made possible a most meaningful Sunday
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Categories: Events, Hula, Memorial Day, and Uncategorized.

If you couldn't make it: TV highlights of the Natatorium Memorial Day observance

Mahalo to everyone who came out to remember our nation’s honored war dead Sunday at the 23rd annual Memorial Day Observance at the Natatorium. If you were unable to make it, you missed a wonderful tribute to the men and women on whose sacrifices a nation is built. Here are some highlights of television coverage of the ceremony: In KITV’s story, Lt. Gen. Duane D. Thiessen, commander of U.S. Marines in the Pacific, is quoted calling the Natatorium “a visible reminder of the price paid over the course of history to ensure that we, and our sons and our daughters,
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Categories: Events, Memorial Day, News coverage, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

Veterans need YOU this weekend: Volunteer for the National Veterans Golden Age Games

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are coming to Hawai’i for the first time! Join the Friends of the Natatorium: We need you to help to make these games an incredible success. This sports festival for veterans 55 and older, to be held from this Thursday, May 26, through Tuesday, May 31, is drawing more than 700 veterans to our state from across the country. They’ll compete in 14 events from dominoes and checkers to bowling and table tennis to swimming, cycling, golf, shot put and discus. There are seven age groups, and divisions for veterans who use wheelchairs or
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Categories: Events, Memorial Day, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

Plan to be there: The Natatorium’s Memorial Day Observance, May 29

More reasons to look forward to the 23rd annual Memorial Day Observance at the Natatorium on Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m.: –We will hear from World War II veteran Ronald M. Oba. Ron, now 88, was a member of F Company of the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the all-Japanese-American U.S. Army unit that fought in Italy, southern France and Germany and became the most decorated regiment in the history of the U.S. military. The retired hospital administrator is a former president of the 442nd Veterans Club and former editor of the 442nd Go for Broke Bulletin, named after
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Categories: Events, Memorial Day, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

Navy, Army vets elected Friends of the Natatorium directors

Two military veterans and civic leaders this week joined the board of directors of the Friends of the Natatorium, taking on leadership roles in the fight to restore, renew and reopen the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. The board elected Yvonne Geesey to fill the seat left empty by the recent death of longtime Natatorium supporter and veterans’ activist Fred Ballard. Maurice D. “Mo” Radke was chosen to fill the vacancy that is opening with the retirement of longtime board member and former President Lin Pang. (More later on Lin’s years of service to the Friends.) Geesey, who also replaces Ballard
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Categories: Events, Friends of the Natatorium, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

Mark your calendar: Natatorium Memorial Day observance on May 29

You are invited to the 23rd ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE AT THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUMSunday, May 29, 10 a.m. [Note: Sunday, not Monday] Please join the Friends of the Natatorium for this poignant and meaningful ceremony, which is open to all. Covered seating will be available. The observance, sponsored by the Friends since 1989, recognizes the sacrifice of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guards and the triumph of the freedom and democratic values they fought to defend. This year’s event keynote speaker is Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, commander, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific. A Marine Corps rifle detail
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Categories: Events, Friends of the Natatorium, Hula, Memorial Day, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

Mahalo, veterans!

On Veterans Day, the Friends of the Natatorium join all Americans in thanking every man and woman from Hawai’i — and from all across the nation — who has worn our country’s uniform. In war and in peace, your honorable service has made it possible for the rest of us to enjoy “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the “unalienable rights” enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. We are grateful. We thought you might enjoy on this Veterans Day seeing highlights from another occasion held to honor U.S. servicemen and women: The annual Memorial Day observance at the Waikiki
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Categories: Memorial Day, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

HPR reports on Memorial Day service at the Natatorium

Hawai’i Public Radio’s Adrienne LaFrance was on hand for Sunday’s 22nd annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Natatorium and filed a report that aired Monday and Tuesday. The story does a fine job of both capturing the spirit of the event and updating listeners on the natatorium issue. One excerpt from the story seems particularly worth thinking about. It quotes our keynote speaker at Sunday’s ceremony, Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon, commanding general of the U.S. Army, Pacific. LaFrance observes that “veterans from World War I, the soldiers the memorial was built to honor, are no longer alive to see it.”
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Categories: Events, Memorial Day, News coverage, and Uncategorized.

Photos from the Natatorium's Memorial Day Service

Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the Natatorium on Sunday for our 22nd annual Memorial Day observance! It was a beautiful day and a memorable morning: thought-provoking addresses by our speakers, Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon and Kim Napier; beautiful, meaningful vocal and hula performances; the inspirational participation of our military men and women and the King’s Guard; the presence of so many veterans. Here are just a few photographs from the ceremony. To see more on Flickr, click here. For a slideshow, click here. Another set of photos is available on Picasa here. A Picasa slideshow here. Thanks again!
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Categories: Events, Hula, Images, Memorial Day, Uncategorized, and Veterans.