FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2018
Contact: Chrystie Brandt
Communications Director
AMVETS (American Veterans) Hawaii
(808) 382-6835
pao@amvets-hawaii.org
Battle of Midway 76th Commemoration Ceremony
Sponsored by AMVETS Hawaii
On June 2, 2018, American Veterans “AMVETS” Hawaii and the Barbers Point Riding Club will be hosting the 76th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway Saturday, 2 June 2018 (0900-1100), at the Historic Barbers Point Stables, Ewa Field World War II Revetments District, Kalaeloa, Kapolei, Hawaii 96707. The Battle of Midway was a major turning point in World War II.
Join us for a service to honor the Battle of Midway veterans and all our World War II veterans. The ceremony will include a reading of the names of our heroes killed in action during or with a connection to the Battle of Midway who have died in the service of our country. This will be followed by the Battle of Midway tribute, playing of “Taps” by MARFORPAC Band.
Guest speakers includes Colonel Gregory D. Gadson (US Army, Retired), former US Army Wounded Warrior Director, Garrison Commander of the U.S. Army Fort Belvoir. He is also a bilateral above-the-knee amputee, actor, and motivational speaker. He served in the U.S. Army for more than 25 years as a field artillery officer and served on active duty for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Joint Forge, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Roland Emmerich’s WWII Epic ‘Midway’ film with Woody Harrelson, Mandy Moore starts shooting this summer in Hawaii. Roland: “At the time, the Americans were the underdog,” he explained. “It was one of those moments where, against all odds, people came together and did the impossible. A lot of pilots died in this battle. I want to make a monument to them and it would be great to make a movie about it.”
Daniel A. Martinez, Chief Historian for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, “Ewa Field not only had a key role on December 7, 1941, but also “played a critical role in the Battle of Midway.”
Donovan A. Lazarus, Commander, AMVETS Hawaii, “This historic event is our way of saying Thanks for their service and sacrifices made to keep our country free.” AMVETS Hawaii is also the key sponsor of the Ewa Battlefield annual December 7th commemorations. A leader since 2014 in preserving Ewa Fields and the memories of our World War II heroes.
“The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”
– Calvin Coolidge
“It is our duty and our solemn vow to never forget those who fought and died.”
– President Lincoln,
“It is our duty and our solemn vow to never forget those who fought and died.”
– President Lincoln,
AMVETS is the nation’s largest and oldest Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization that is open to and fights for all veterans who served honorably, including reservists & guardsmen, since 1944. AMVETS has been a nonpartisan advocate for veterans and their families for more than 70 years. Amvets.org.
Order of Events:
Prelude Music – Marine Forces Pacific Band
Welcome – MC: 2LT Danielle Nuszkowski
Posting of the Colors: Marine Forces Pacific Color Guard
National Anthem & Hawai’i Pono’i – Mililani High School Choir
Invocation – Chaplain, LCDR Philip Ridley
Speaker: Senator Mike Gabbard, Hawaii State Senate, District 20
AMVETS Silver Helmet Award presented to Dr. Gerard K. Akaka – Sen. Gabbard & CDR Lazarus
Speaker: Valerie Van der Veer, President, Barbers Point Riding Club
Speaker: Benjamin Resnick, Historical Archaeologist
Speaker: Daniel Martinez, Chief Historian, National Park Service
Keynote Address: COL Gregory Gadson (U.S. Army, Ret.)
Hawaii Certificate of Achievement presented to COL Gadson by Sen. Gabbard & CDR Lazarus
Battle Hymn of the Republic and God Bless America – Marine Forces Pacific Band
Placing the Ceremonial Wreaths – AmVets Hawaii:
Commander Donovan A. Lazarus, CDR Ron Lam, CDR Carl Vincenti and COL
Gregory Gadson, Senator Mike Gabbard and Dr. Gerard Akaka
National Park Service: Superintendent Jacqueline
Ashwell and NPS Chief Historian Daniel Martinez
Remembering Battle of Midway Casualties – MC: 2LT Danielle
Nuszkowski and Donna Gishitomi, Dir., AMVETS Family Services
Battle of Midway Tribute – Playing of “Taps”
Music – America the Beautiful – Marine Forces Pacific Band
God Bless The U.S.A. – Mililani High School Choir
Benediction – Chaplain, LCDR Philip Ridley
Retirement of the Colors – Marine Forces Pacific Color Guard
Music – Armed Forces Medley Salute – Marine Forces Pacific Band
Concluding Remarks & Acknowledgements
Closing Ceremonial Music – Marine Forces Pacific Band
End of Program
