Veterans Corner

Column by Jesse Church

Hello veterans, old Jesse here with all the veterans’ news and upcoming events. I have some news for all our Marines out there. The current sergeant major of the Marine Corps, Carlton Kent, is retiring during a ceremony at the Marine Barracks in Washington D.C. on June 9. General Jim Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, announced on April 11, 2011 in Washington D.C. that Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett will become the 17th Sergeant Major, stepping in after Kent’s retirement. Sgt. Maj. Barrett is a 30-year veteran of the Corps, having enlisted at age 17 in 1981. I know that all Marines present and past will join me in wishing Sgt. Maj. Barrett well in his new position.

On Saturday, May 28 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Kaunakakai, VFW Post 3870 held their Memorial Day service. There was a nice turnout of about 50 people, and Commander George Harada did a fine job as emcee. On Monday May 30, Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans held their Memorial Day Service with a turnout of over 100 people. Commander Larry Helm also did a fine job as emcee at the service held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

I would like to thank both George Harada and Larry Helm with a big mahalo for all of their work in putting together both services and for affording me the opportunity to address our veterans and people of Molokai. It was certainly my pleasure. I would also like to thank our veterans and the people of Molokai I spoke to after the services who have given this column praise and enjoyed reading it. I will continue to write this column and if you have any suggestions on how to improve this column, please give me a call.

I’d like to remind everybody that John Candello, the veterans advocate, will be at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in Kaunakakai on Thursday, June 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you need help with a claim or want to file a claim, John’s the man to see. Call 553-3611 to make an appointment. Commander George Harada of VFW Post 3870 wants all members to know the next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 14 at his home at 12:30 p.m. Also, if anyone out there is interested in joining the VFW, please call the Commander at 553-5730.

Again, mahalo to all who attended the Memorial Day services, the veterans for caring for fellow veterans and the public for your continued support of our veterans. If anyone has any news, stories or would just like to talk and share their experiences while in service of this great nation, give old Jesse a call at 553-3323. I’d love to talk to you. A big mahalo to all our veterans, and the people of Molokai, you’re the best, I love you all.