TALK STORY WITH MAJOR GENERAL (RET). MARY KAY HERTOG

with MAJOR GENERAL (RET). MARY KAY HERTOG

Commander of the Kaua’i Veterans Council

Memorial Day Is May 31st And It’s Fast Approaching

To many Americans, Memorial Day is a three- day weekend that signals the beginning of summer. Folks head to the beach, hang out with friends, and have family get togethers. But to the men and women in the Armed Forces, to our veterans and their families, Memorial Day is so much more. It’s the one day of the year we set aside to honor those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and died while serving in the military. Many people confuse Memorial Day, (which is always the last Monday of May), with Veterans Day, which is always observed on November 11th. Veterans Day recognizes and pays tribute to all veterans, living or dead. On this holiday we especially give thanks and celebrate our living veterans who served our country during war and peacetime.

Are Veterans Unique?

I think so, but I’m biased because I’m a veteran too. But think of it this way, less than one percent of the population in the US has served in the Armed Forces so that makes them unique. Our veterans are willing to make sacrifices to serve their country. They have to endure separations from their families and loved ones when they deploy or get a remote assignment to a location their family cannot join them. They have to move quite often which means uprooting their families, starting over in a new state or country, a new neighborhood, a new job, and the list goes on. Our veterans can face many challenges, especially when returning from a deployment or leaving the military and trying to readjust to life. Our combat veterans may face even greater challenge. Some may have physical injuries and some may have invisible injuries and suffer from post traumatic stress from what they’ve seen or done. These

veterans need our help, support and understanding.

So what can you do to honor and help our veterans?

Start by simply saying “thank you” and let them know you appreciate what they’ve done. Feel free to come to the annual Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies and take the time to meet and talk to our many veterans.

Our Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe on those days is absolutely beautiful, bedecked with lei and American flags. The lei are made by school children and our local Girl Scouts decorate the grave markers. You could volunteer to be part of that effort, or you could help our local Boy Scouts place an American flag at each grave marker. Some veterans may need a ride to a medical appointment if they can’t drive or own a car. Consider becoming a driver for our disabled veterans. And of course during the holidays our veterans deployed overseas and away from their loved ones always appreciate getting a care box or card. If you know a veteran, spend an hour or so with them and take the time to really listen to them. If you have a neighbor who is serving in the Armed Forces and they are deployed, ask their family if they need any help with anything. And when we thank a veteran for their service let’s not forget to thank their family.

The families may not wear a uniform but they serve and make sacrifices too. A kid who has a parent or both parents in the military may have to move often, leave their friends behind and hope they make new ones at their new location and school. In fact, the average military kid will have attended 6 or more schools by the time they graduate high school if their military parent stays in for a career. Military families have to carry on their daily routines with one parent being both mom and dad and that can be very stressful. But they do it, and wait for their loved ones to come home.

Just remember, you don’t have to wait for Memorial Day or Veterans Day to show how much you appreciate our veterans. Any day is a great day to say “thank you” and support those who served and continue to serve.

You Can Pick

Your Pineapple and Eat It Too!

June 20 marks the first day of summer this year. Although this summer may have a rockier start than years prior due to the pandemic that doesn’t mean there aren’t tons of ways to make this summer feel as vibrant as every other year. One way to do that is to incorporate summer fruits into your cook out! A versatile fruit with many health benefits that can be used in many dishes is the ever-sweet pineapple, the ultimate summer fruit.

Pineapples are an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese and fiber while also being low in calories, sodium, saturated fats and cholesterol. Pineapples also contain an enzyme called bromelain, which aids in digestion. The bromelain enzyme is generally found in the stem or core of a pineapple and helps to digest food by breaking down the protein particles within it. Promoting a healthy digestive system [bromelain] is great for a natural detox and has also been known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties.

Aside from being good for you and providing antioxidants you might not be getting from other foods, pineapple can bring an added brightness to your meals and is the perfect way to liven up dinnertime. To make sure that you’re able to jump in with a perfectly ripe pineapple, look for these indicators so you know that you’re picking out the best one every time!

pros SELECTING PINEAPPLE woes SELECTING PINEAPPLE

The best and most ripe pineapples should be a yellow or golden color all the way through from base to stem. Ripe pineapples should give off a et sweet, fresh scent if you smell the base of the fruit.

The skin of the pineapple should be firm with a little bit of softness when pressure is applied. Just make sure not to poke yourself with the spikes!

Green pineapples indicate that they are not ripe enough, and orange coloring on pineapples indicate that they may be overripe. Bad pineapples will begin to smell like vinegar when they’ve begun to rot, so smell with caution.

If you check the pineapple’s skin and it’s either as hard as a rock

or feels mushy, this is not your

perfect pineapple. These can indicate underripe and overripe fruits respectively.

Yummy PINEAPPLE CREATIONS

Try PORK TACOS with little chunks of pineapple! You’ll be surprised how well the flavors blend together, especially with grilled pork. To take it up a notch, try grilling the pineapple, too! PINEAPPLE SALSA is the perfect summer side dish. Swap out your tomato for pineapple! Some standard salsa ingredients to add are chopped onion, cilantro, salt and lime juice to taste! Throw some pineapple in the next time you make a SMOOTHIE for an extra tropical kick! Want something sweet for DESSERT, and not in mood for chocolate? Try grilling this ultimate summer fruit in slices and serving them topped with vanilla ice cream, coconut flakes and almond slivers.