HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hundreds gathered Monday morning at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Puowaina (Punchbowl) for the 75th Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony.
The free, public event featured performances from the Royal Hawaiian Band, hula from the 97th Lei Court, speeches and a military aircraft flyover. HNN’s own Ashley Nagaoka served as emcee.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, “This is an iconic location, this hallowed ground where more than 70,000 individuals have been laid to rest. More than 43,000 of our heroes lie in graves. More than 26,000 are interred here. We are all gathered here today to acknowledge their sacrifice and to pay our utmost respect to all others who served and gave their lives to defend us.”…