Archives for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616

Attention, Motorcyclists: Veterans Day Ride to the Natatorium

Motorcycle riders: Mark your calendars for Monday morning, Nov. 11! Hawaii’s American Legion Riders are again organizing a Veterans Day ride to the War Memorial Natatorium to honor and support our veterans, living and deceased. The group aims to recruit 100 bikers to ride with them to kick off the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Natatorium, organized by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616. Logistics Riders will meet at Cycle City and leave for Waikiki at about 0915 (9:15 a.m. for civilians!). Arrival at the Natatorium is scheduled for 1000. Some riders will meet up with and escort a
Read More

Categories: Events, Uncategorized, Veterans, and Veterans Day.

Veterans Day 2012 at the Natatorium: Photos

Mahalo to all who were able to attend the annual Veterans Day observance at the Natatorium on Sunday. And aloha to all who were there with us in spirit! It was a wonderful occasion, organized as always by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616, with special support this year from the Riders of American Legion Post 17 and their motorcycles. The Friends of the Natatorium are honored to work with these outstanding veterans of service to our nation, some in World War II seven decades ago. A few select photos can be found here. Or you can see our entire
Read More

Categories: Events, Friends of the Natatorium, Images, Uncategorized, Veterans, and Veterans Day.

You are invited: Veterans Day at the Natatorium

In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice went into effect, ending World War I, known then as the Great War. After World War II, the annual Nov. 11 commemoration of that moment – until then known as Armistice Day – became Veterans Day. Since then, the holiday has recognized the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guards of all U.S. wars. Still, World War I holds a special place in observances that day. In many places, we observe two consecutive minutes of silence at 11 a.m. local time. The first is
Read More

Categories: Friends of the Natatorium, Uncategorized, Veterans, and Veterans Day.

Welcome, new Natatorium Friends director Fred Wong!

Aloha and welcome aboard to the newest member of the Friends of the Natatorium board of directors: Fred Wong. Fred, a lifelong resident of Hawai’i, is a very youthful and energetic 86 years old. He brings the perspective of an active veterans leader to efforts to bring back a memorial that, after all, was built specifically to honor veterans and their comrades who died in war. A former technical sergeant in the Air Force, Fred served in the Asia-Pacific Theater during World War II. His last active-duty assignments were with the Hawaiian Air Defense System; he was an Air Force
Read More

Categories: Friends of the Natatorium, Uncategorized, and Veterans.

Join veterans, young and older, for a Veterans Day observance at the Natatorium

Please join Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616, recent veterans from the U.S. Vets housing and work re-entry programs, the Honolulu Elks Lodge 616 and the Friends of the Natatorium for the VFW’s 15th annual Veterans Day wreath laying and commemoration. The observance will take place at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium this Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. That’s the famous “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” the date and time that the armistice ending World War I went into effect 93 years ago. Nov. 11 has been solemnly observed in the United States ever
Read More

Categories: Events, Friends of the Natatorium, Uncategorized, and Veterans.