The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

ABOVE: Korean War veterans
of the Wyandotte Indian
Nation at Veterans Day parade
in Branson, Missouri.
LEFT Members and wives of
Ohio Chapter #108 of
Korean Veterans at Veterans
Day Parade in Branson,
Missouri.
BELOW: Korean Veterans
from Ohio Chapter #108 in
Veterans Day Parade in
Branson, Missouri.
Settle Inn, Branson, Missouri, where
Korean War Veterans have reunion every
Veterans Day. (Thank you Curt Farley for
letter and photos.)
Hawaii Chapter
Veterans day
A flourish of events on Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day,
brought closure to the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War
Commemoration period. The events began at 10:00 a.m. at the
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) with
Honolulu’s Mayor Jeremy Harris’ Veterans Day Ceremony. Over
a thousand veterans and guests were in attendance as Mayor Harris
paid tribute to America’s veterans.
At 1:00 p.m. Hawaii’s governor Linda Lingle addressed an
audience of over 500 veterans and guests at the Kaneohe Veterans
Cemetery. Following the laying of a wreath by Governor Linda
Lingle, a representative from each veterans’ organization placed a
floral lei beside the wreath. A fly-by by a squadron of helicopters
brought the event to a close.
At 5:00 p.m. aboard the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, another
Veterans’ Day ceremony took place on the USS Missouri hosted
by the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. Louis
Baldovi, of KWVA Hawaii Chapter #1, was the Keynote Speaker
of the event.
The day’s culminating activity took place in the evening at
Washington Place, the home of Governor Linda Lingle, where
Korean War veterans were dinner guests of the governor.
However, Korean War veterans were not given a rest. Not to be
outdone, the Korean community of the U.S. & ROK Alliance hosted
a reception for Korean War veterans at the Hale Koa Hotel in
Waikiki on Thursday, Nov. 13, where Governor Linda Lingle was
the Keynote Speaker. Korean dancers and singers provided the
entertainment for the evening. The highlight of evening came
when Louis Baldovi and Robert Hamakawa led a group of Korean
War veterans in a rendition of the Korean Spirit Song.
Other News
The 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration
Commission, provided the leadership that made the three years a
worthy period in remembrance of the war and its veterans. The
members of the commission were: Honorary Chairpersons
Governor Linda Lingle & Consul General Heung Sik Choi;
Advisors General Frederick C. Weyand (Ret.) and General David
A. Bramlett (Ret), Louis Baldovi, Floranio Castillo & James
Santos; Ex-Officio MG Robert G. F. Lee; Chairman, BG Irwin K.
Cockett, Jr. (ret); Vice-Chairman Robert Hamakawa; At Large
Mildred McColgan, Nick Nishimoto, Charles Chang, Robert
Talmadge and Richard Higa, Sid Springer, Royce Ebesu, and
Abel Cravalho.
Chapter News
On the November 7, 2003 the Ch. #1 held its annual installation
banquet. Taking the oath of office were, Jack Hirai-President,
Vice-President, Herbert Schreiner-Secretary and Richard Higa-
Treasurer. Korean Consul General Heung Sik Choi thanked the
Korean War veterans for their sacrifices in the Korean War.
On Saturday, December 6, the chapter paraded for the 6th successive
year in the Annual Kaneohe Christmas Parade. The chapter
placed second in the category of Best Senior Marching Unit.
At a luncheon, member Cal Hiraoka accepted the award in behalf
of the chapter. In parades over the past 6 years, the chapter has
placed First, Second and Third. Not bad for some old fogies.
May/June, 2004 Page 49