By J.K. Yamamoto
By MicFourth District Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961 presented its annual Memorial Day service on May 25 at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute’s Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall.
“God Bless America” was sung by Pastor Becky Hirata, associate pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance, who also gave the invocation.
The Redondo Union High School Marine Corps Jr. ROTC presented and posted the colors, Boy Scout Troop 378 led the Pledge of Allegiance, and emcee Les Higa introduced VIP guests, including Gardena Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka, City Councilmember Mark Henderson, and Ken Hayashi of the Japanese American Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee.
The Memorial Day reading was given by Cadet/Capt. Minkyung Jo, Cadet/Sgt. Adam O’Connell and Cadet/Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Felixson of RUHS MCJROTC.
Attendees were provided with a biography of Pvt. Masaru Taira, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who was born in Hawaii and died in Italy in 1944 at the age of 19. His brother Wilfred, a 442nd medic, was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star for bravery in combat.
The posting of miniature flags in honor of deceased members of Posts 1961, 9902, 9938 and 4140 was led by Post 1961 Commander Stephen Moriyama and VFW Women’s Club President Sue Watanabe. Attendees posted flags in memory of family members and friends, escorted by GUHS MCJROTC cadets and Troop 378 scouts and assisted by Post 1961 Quartermaster Mickey Nqzawa.
Jake Shimabukuro’s “Go For Broke Tribute” was played and the RUHS MCJROTC Color Guard conducted the 21-rifle salute, the playing of “Taps,” and the retiring of the colors. Hirata gave the benediction and Higa gave closing remarks.
Refreshments were provided by Post 1961 and Troop 378.
During the week preceding the event, the scouts and adult leaders of Boy Scout Troop 719, Girl Scout Troop 310G, Boy Scout Troop 683, Boy Scout Troop 242, Boy Scout Troop 378, Girl Scout Troop 4345, and a few Post 1961 members cleaned up more than 300 veterans’ gravesites at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes and Los Angeles National Cemetery in West L.A.
In addition to trimming overgrown grass and polishing the markers, they placed American flags secured with Post pendants and Buddy Poppies on each grave. For the closing ritual, they stood at attention and gave a solemn, respectful hand salute for each veteran.