Gabbard to deliver keynote at Veterans Day ceremony at Natatorium

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial at 11 a.m. Saturday during a Veterans Day ceremony commemorating the 99th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Gabbard recently introduced H.R. 438, the Honoring World War I Memorial Act of 2017, which would authorize $50 million awarded through Veterans Affairs grants to eligible entities for the rehabilitation of World War I memorials across the nation.

Eligible entities include non-profit organizations or state or local governments with direct jurisdiction over the rehabilitation of a World War I memorial. The Waikiki Natatorium would be eligible, along with memorials in 47 other states.

“More than four million brave men and women, including 10,000 soldiers from the territory of Hawaii, bravely served our country during World War I,” said Gabbard in a press release. “Nearly a century later, many of the memorials, like the WWI Waikiki Natatorium in Hawaii, are deteriorating, decaying, and crumbling due to decades of neglect, and many have been closed to the public for decades. The heroes of World War I fought bravely and sacrificed greatly for our country and deserve places of rest and reflection that honor their service. Passing the Honoring World War I Memorials Act of 2017 to restore our country’s World War I memorials would provide a small measure of our nation’s gratitude to those who served and sacrificed.”

Gabbard will also deliver opening remarks at tonight’s Sunset on the Beach gala in Waikiki with CBS’s “Hawaii Five-0” cast and crew honoring veterans.

She will also host a “Congress On Your Corner” event from 4:30 to 6 p.m. tomorrow at Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului, Maui, to hear from constituents.