Memorial Day is our most somber holiday, honoring Americans who have given their lives in combat. It has special importance today, when homage to recently fallen warriors is added to recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in all previous conflicts. This year, Iraq has been added to those who served in past wars, while bravery continues in Afghanistan, with the end in sight.
The welcome bulletin came last October, when President Barack Obama announced closure of the war in Iraq and the decision to bring all U.S. troops out of Iraq by the end of last year. More than 215 armed service members with Hawaii ties — those who called the islands their home or were stationed in military bases here — were killed in Iraq since 2003.
The president announced this month that all combat operations led by American forces in what he once called "a war of necessity" in Afghanistan will end in the summer of next year, at which point the United States and other NATO forces will move to a "support role." At that point, the Afghans must secure and maintain their country’s independence and security. Until then, American troops will continue taking risks to reach that goal.
Just two weeks ago, about 1,000 Marines stationed at Kaneohe Bay returned to Hawaii, bringing to an end the last Hawaii-based Marine infantry battalion deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan over an eight-year period. During the deployment, 45 Hawaii Marines and a Navy corpsman were killed in a suicide car-bomb attack, a helicopter crash and in ground fighting.
At one point, as many as 14,000 Hawaii-based soldiers and Marines left for or returned from the region late in 2008 and early in 2009. Many of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in that area of the world have found their final resting place at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, alongside those who came from the battlefields of past history.
"The past decade has provided reminder enough of the devotion, loyalty and determination of the magnificent men and women who serve in our military formations," Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, the Hawaii-born retired general, said in his Memorial Day message. "‘In harm’s way’ has become the cliche for those deployed on mission without really capturing the danger, stress, worry, fear and love that keeps military families riveted to each breaking overseas news bulletin. There are no cliches for discussing the undiscussable."
Americans, pause for a period on this Memorial Day to pay tribute, as the tradition returns today at Punchbowl and other military cemeteries: The placing of a flag on every single grave, while friends and relatives pay their homage in the ultimate respect.
