VETERAN’S DAY PARADE AGAIN HONORS HAWAII’S MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
Hawaii men and women who served their country in foreign conflicts from World War II to Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, were again honored in a special Veteran’s Day parade in Hilo on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008. This is the second year the parade was held, building on the high degree of interest and participation in last year’s event, which was the first such Veteran’s Day parade of its kind to ever take place on Hawaii Island. The parade is among only two held Statewide in honor of Veteran’s Day. The parade began at 11 a.m. following a 1.5-mile route through downtown Hilo. The theme of the 2008 parade was “All Gave Some and Some Gave All.” Grand Marshall of the parade was Major General Robert G.F. Lee, Hawaii State Adjutant General. Parade participants includeed a full military color guard and two armed services bands, including the 32-member United States Navy Band from Pearl Harbor, Oahu, and the 111th Army National Guard Band stationed at Fort Ruger on Oahu. In all, more than took part, including contingents from Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts, the 442nd Veterans Association, 200 motorcycles from the Vietnam Veterans organization and many others. Some contingents walked the parade route while others rode or were on floats.
This year’s parade specifically honored surviving veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regiment of the United States Army. The 100th, which was made up of Japanese-American soldiers from Hawaii, fought in key battles against the Germans in Italy and France in the last two years of World War II. The 100th sustained heavy casualties and also became the most decorated combat unit in U.S. military history.
Veterans have helped us fight for the freedom of our own and other countries, and more veterans are being taken from our ranks each year, so it is important we recognize them. The parade was a success and wonderful to watch, here are a few photos for you to look at in case you missed it.VFW Post 3830 was proud to participate in the parade this year.
Just click on any Slide and click on play to see slideshow.
