Secretary Max Cleland and eight ABMC commissioners joined more than 500 attendees gathered at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) in Hawaii on Veterans Day to honor the sacrifices of U.S. service members. The event, organized by the Oahu Veteran’s Council, included remarks from Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, and the Honorable Julia Gillard, the prime minister of Australia.
ABMC commissioners in attendance included Cindy Campbell, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Darrell Dorgan, John L. Estrada, Richard Klass, Constance Morella, Ike Skelton, and Maura Sullivan.
To commemorate the services of the fallen, dignitaries, including Prime Minister Gillard, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Adm. Willard, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and Secretary Cleland, laid wreaths during the ceremony.
Other ceremony attendees included Australian Ambassador Kim Beazley, Japanese Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo, Rep. Mazie Hirono, and Rep. Collen Hanabusa.
The Hawaii Air National Guard provided a flyover of F-22 Raptors in missing man formation. The Marine Forces Pacific Band, several Veterans Service Organizations, the Kahuku High School JROTC, the Pearl City Community Church Chorus and the Pa Kui A Holo, a traditional Hawaiian cultural group, also helped commemorate the service of veterans during the ceremony.