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HONOLULU – Marines, airmen, sailors and soldiers could be
seen entering the State Capitol building in Honolulu with
strong emotions across their faces. The service members
gathered with state officials and civilians to honor their
fallen comrades during a Hawaii Medal of Honor ceremony,
March 27, 2013.
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U.S. Airmen pay tribute to fallen heroes during the 21 Gun Salute during the Hawaiian Medal of Honor Ceremony at the State Building in Honolulu, March 27, 2013. As of Dec. 31, 2012, Hawaii has lost 327 Service members with Hawaiian ties who gave their lives in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Schroeder)
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The Hawaii State Senate and Hawaii State
House of Representatives awarded the Hawaii Medal of Honor
to 19 fallen service members. Of the 19 fallen heroes
honored, eight medals were presented to members of the 25th
Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
“In
offering the Hawaii Medal of Honor to those who gathered
here, in memory of those who have fallen, we recognize that
they are part of us ... part of our Ohana,” said Rep. K. Mark
Takai, Chairman for the Committee on Veterans, Military, and
International Affairs, and Culture and the Arts. “The medal
guarantees that they will never be forgotten. I hope that
the children of these heroes will one day appreciate the
sacrifices that their fathers and their mothers made on
behalf of all of us.”
As of Dec. 31, 2012, the state
of Hawaii has awarded their Medal of Honor to 327 service
members with Hawaii ties. Hawaii is one of three states that
honor their fallen service members this way.
“I'm
astounded about what the state has done for the military,
Marines, soldiers, Coast Guard, everybody,” said Tom Logan,
who received the Hawaii Medal of Honor on behalf of his son,
Marine Cpl. Joseph Logan. “I never realized how much love
they have for this country's soldiers. It's a feeling you
can't express sometimes.”
In 2005, the Hawaii State
Legislature passed Act 21 from House Bill 8, which began the
Hawaii Medal of Honor. “The purpose of this Act is to
provide for a Hawaii Medal of Honor that would help express
the deep appreciation and gratitude of the People of Hawaii
to the loved ones of members of the military who sacrificed
their lives in defense of our nation and its freedoms.”
Members of the fallen heroes' units attended the
ceremony to show their gratitude and pay tribute to their
comrades. The emotions from the guests in attendance were
minuet compared to the emotions of the family members.
“The most difficult part of loosing someone is the
families with little children,” said Takai.
Marine
Master Sgt. Travis Riddick's daughter wept as she was
presented with her father's medal.
“I hope that in
the future, the children will understand how important her
father is to many others and people from Hawaii,” said Takai.
She was not the only family member whose emotions were
evident during the ceremony.
“This ceremony put us
over the top,” Logan said. “He was our G.I. Joey, that's
what we called him. They say the children emulate the
parents, I didn't realize it until all this happened what
our kids were doing. They were paying attention and I'm
grateful for it.”
After taking part in the ceremony,
Logan was inspired to bring the honor of remembering the
fallen to his home state.
“I am going to take this
legislation back to Texas,” Logan said. “Texas has lost 613
[service members] and California has even more. A lot of
families are affected by the loss of a soldier. What happens
is a tragedy. With losing a son or daughter, the feelings
don't go away, they stay there.”
With his military
past, Takai has had to deal with the loss of fellow service
members.
“We see the pain in both the children and
grandparents,” Takai said. “The military has been such an
important part of our history. Our military is part of our
Hawaii Ohana. The state cares about the soldier, the family
and the person the family lost. We will continue to do
this.
More photos available in frame below
By Army Sgt. Daniel Schroeder
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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