Kaua‘i community invited to place lei at annual Veterans Day ceremony in Hanapēpē

Monday is Veterans Day, the federal holiday on which the United States honors veterans of its armed forces.

On the Garden Isle, the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery in Hanapēpē will take place on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

The theme of this year’s hour-long event is “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service” and the guest spearker will be Chief Petty Officer Michael McHugh, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard station on Kaua‘i.

Mayor Derek Kawakami also is scheduled to speak, and a Kaua‘i veteran will share a message from Gov. Josh Green. Several Kaua‘i County Council members and Capt. Brett Stevenson, commander of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, will be in attendance.

Music will be provided by Ron Morinshi and the Sunset Swing Band, with Sarah Tochiki playing “Taps.”

Attendees may place wreaths and lei at the flagpole during a special moment in the ceremony. Organizers invite all who wish to participate to bring a lei and walk with fellow community members, community leaders and veterans.

“The Veterans Cemetery is absolutely beautiful thanks to our caretakers Leo, Nathan and Jason,” organizer and emcee Mary Kay Hertog said.

On Veterans Day, the cemetery is even more stunning because many local organizations make lei to be draped over each crematorium niche and grave marker, she said.

Anyone who would like to make lei for that purpose may drop them off at the cemetery on Monday by 10 a.m. Girl Scouts will be placing the lei at that time. 

“We invite all to this ceremony to say thank you to our veterans and their families,” said Hertog, who on Friday was honored by county officials for her years of service on the Kaua‘i Veterans Council and in the community.