Commandery Commemorates

Veterans Day 2022 in Hawaii

Companions supported Veterans Day at several events. Companion Manchester attended the commemoration at the National Military Cemetery of the Pacific at “the Punchbowl” and Companion Fred Staedel represented the Commandery at the ceremonies held at the WWI Memorial Natatorium. The ceremony started at 11 am, and recognized that important moment in history marking the end of the fighting in WWI on the Western Front, which ended 11th month, the 11th day, and the 11th hour. The American Legion Kau Tom post, aided by VFW post 8616, ran the show, with the Friends of the Natatorium Foundation in support. Historically, this has been one of the best “grass roots” commemorations for marking Veterans Day in Hawaii.

Companion Manchester attended the Mayor’s Veterans Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. This year, the presentations of wreaths started early in the morning, before the main ceremony, providing more time for additional speakers. U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Earl Hurrey (Ret.), master of ceremonies. U.S. Navy Adm. John Aquilino, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, was the senior military speaker, and U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Clearfield, deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, gave the keynote address. Governor David Y. Ige also gave remarks. Other distinguished visitors attending the event included: Honorable Rick Blangiardi, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Consular Corps representatives from Japan, Australia, New Zealand; Flag Officers representing USARPAC, USPACAF, USPACFLT, US Coast Guard Pacific; State of Hawaii Department of Defense; Department of Veterans Affairs, Director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, and Sergeant Major Allan Kellogg, USMC (Ret.), Medal of Honor. The ceremony included a fly-over by four F-22 Raptors.

At the State level, the Hawaii Department of Defense in conjunction with the State Office of Veterans’ Services hosted a Virtual Governor’s Veterans Day Concert and Ceremony. The 111th Hawaii Army National Guard Band was led by Bandmaster and Chief of the Army National Guard Bands. Governor Ige provided his personal message to Veterans in the video, and the current TAG, MG Kenneth Hara served as the senior military official. You can watch the recording here: https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/2022-veterans-day-concert/

Oahu Veterans Council Report.

Commander Manchester attended the January 28th Meeting of the OVC. Of interest, BGen Joseph Clearfield, Deputy Commander of Marine Forces Pacific was the guest speaker. In addition, the Red Cross joined the OVC, and invited OVC member organizations to join meetings and works with the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and International Services Division. At the this meeting, the Military Order of World Wars, Capt. Gaylord Dillingham Chapter published its plan for a “Massing of the Colors” at the Oahu Veterans Center on June 14, 2023, Flag Day. All member organizations of the OVC are welcome to attend. Finally, a military-themed musical entitled “ Letters from Home, “ is making a 50 States Tour. The act features actress Erinn Dearth and actor Dan Beckman, and will take place at the Paliku Theater in Kaneohe, Wednesday, April 26, 2022, 7 pm. Tickets are available at. www.letterfromhomesingers.com

At the February meeting of the OVC, Hawaii MOFW Companion MG, Ret., Arthur ‘Joe’ Logan was the Guest Speaker. Companion Logan is now the Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department and spoke to Veterans about his time as the Adjutant General (TAG) for Hawaii, as well as his current time as the chief of police. Col, Ret. Ed Cruickshank, President of the OVC called on all member Veteran Organizations and Veterans Service Organizations to be more engaged in activities and to attend the monthly OVC meeting. As a member organization, we are required by the terms of the membership to do our best to attend the monthly meeting.

50th Vietnam War Commemoration Cadet Essay Contest

By Companion Arthur Tulak, Chairman of the Commandery 50th Committee

The Commandery will once again sponsor the annual Cadet Essay Contest it started in 2014. Past winning essays have been published in the Commandery News and other media. For examples, the 2016 1st Place essay by Cadet Danthone Buyacao, from W. R. Farrington High School Army JROTC was published in the Scottish American Society National Magazine The Patriot, (Vol. XXXX, No. 2). The 2017 1st place essay, by Cadet Emily Wu, of Punahou High School was published on-line by AUSA at https://www.ausa.org/news/ vietnam-war-essay-winner-honored-lanpac . The 1st place essay, and excerpts from other essays are published in the MOFW Commandery News https://issuu.com/arthur82 See the 2020 winning essay by CDT Raffaele Barry of Waipahu High School at https://issuu.com/arthur82/docs/ hi_mofw_commandery_news_june_2020 See the 2021 winning essay by Cadet Rhapsody Espiritu of Farrington High School at https://issuu.com/arthur82/docs/hi_mofw_commandery_news_june_2021 See the 2022 winning essay by CDT Kennedy Ushiroda of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt High School JROTC at https:// issuu.com/arthur82/docs/hi_mofw_commandery_news_june_2022_final/1

The Hawaii MOFW Commandery will recognize the top-performing essayists, with cash awards: $150 for 1st place; $100 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd. The Federal Business Council contributed funds for this year’s prizes, and are thusly listed as one of our 2023 sponsors. The ROA will provide a certificate of achievement signed by the Dept. Commander. The AUSA Hawaii Chapter will provide a certificate of achievement. The DoD Vietnam War Commemoration will award a certificate signed by the Commemoration Director. These awards may change as each organization determines whether it will provide additional benefits. The intent is to collectively raise the incentives for Cadets to undertake scholarly work.

Please volunteer to serve as an essay judge to pick this year’s winners!