December 7th is an important date on Oahu. It is the anniversary of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor launching the United States into World War II. The big ceremony is in Pearl Harbor, at the Arizona Memorial. Other ceremonies are on the Hickam AFB side of Pearl Harbor, and at Wheeler AAF up near Schofield Barracks, and over at Kaneohe Marine Base on the windward side.
But I headed down to Barbers Point Golf Course for a little-heralded ceremony conducted by a Navy League volunteer and attended by a few old Marines. The honor guard presenting the colors were Kapolei High School kids in the junior ROTC program. A single active duty Marine Master Sergeant attended.
Listen to the audio clip below for most of the short ceremony, delivered as only a rusty old veteran can. I especially like the reference to this place being a long way from Honolulu….and Hotel Street, and also how the greatest generation was “just a little bit older than them young people standing right there” (i.e., the junior ROTC high schoolers).
Not the fanciest ceremony, but a good one, and I was proud to be a part of it.
Waipahu Bob 