Visitors
Updates to Website:
27 Dec 2007
Added All Coast Guard
Hawaii Message listing details of the Punchbowl Dedication.
The message provides details on appointed place of duty, uniform of
the day, transportation to and from Punchbowl Cemetery. (click
to view message).
3 Dec 2007:
Added photos of rock to be used for
Punchbowl Memorial (click here to view design page)
Aloha! The United States Coast Guard Pacific Veterans Memorial was
dedicated at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Friday,
January 18th, 2008. We were honored to have the keynote address
delivered by the 23rd Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen,
and the members of the official party included Governor Linda Lingle,
Senator Daniel Akaka, Mayor Mufi Hanneman, and Rear Admiral Sally
Brice-O'Hara the Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District.
Joining the official party were WWII and Korean veteran Chief Damage
Controlman (retired) Clyde Allen, WWII veteran Mr. Wallace Shipp, SPAR
Ms. Genevieve Anderson, Korean War Veteran Captain (retired) Jerry
Lesperance, Vietnam Veteran LCDR (retired) Bill Clark, and D14 Enlisted
Petty Officer of the Year BM1 O'Brien. The photos below show when the
memorial was unveiled for the first time and the blessing of the
memorial by Kahu Kekoa, Chaplain of the Kamehameha Schools.
It is right and fitting that the Coast Guard Pacific Veterans Memorial
overlook Honolulu on the "Hill of Sacrifice". Coast Guard men and women
have served and sacrificed throughout history and we affirm their legacy
and devotion to duty by dedicating this memorial in their memory. Our
memorial now takes its rightful place alongside similar memorials
recognizing the contribution of the other branches of the U.S. Armed
Forces. Our memorial will forever be linked to the beaches of
Guadalcanal and the sacrifice paid by our Coast Guard heroes there. The
stone that forms the base of the memorial comes from the beach at Point
Cruz, where Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Signalman 1/c Douglas
Munro was mortally wounded while rescuing a battalion of trapped
Marines. His heroism created the foundation of the Core Values of Honor,
Respect and Devotion to Duty that we live today.
We could not have completed this project without the generous
contributions of many donors, both organizations and individuals,
throughout these many months. We especially would like to thank the Navy
League of Honolulu, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Military Officers
Association of America (Honolulu Chapter) and many, many others who made
this project possible.
It goes without saying that this effort could not have been accomplished
without the tireless dedication, commitment and creativity of the
committee members and many volunteers. We take pride in knowing that
this endeavor marked not only an historic day for the Coast Guard, but
it was done out of our most profound respect for those who have served
before us.
Mahalo nui loa, thank you and Semper Paratus!
Click photo for larger view
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