Waimea High School – Menehune Cadets Participate in Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony and Parade

Writer – C/CPT Fredy Padamada

Photographer – COL (R) Vincent L Freeman Jr.

Three cadets from the Waimea High School Army JROTC Battalion participated in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony and Parade in Waikiki, Hawaii on Dec. 7-8, 2024. During this trip, the cadets visited numerous historic locations such as Wheeler Army Airfield, the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials on Ford Island, Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

On Saturday, December 7th, they had the privilege of being seated in the VIP section alongside distinguished guests, including 104-year old U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor survivor, Ike Schab, Mrs. Jeanne Gibson, iconic “Rosie the Riveter”; Purple Heart awardees, and a Medal of Honor recipient. The ceremony featured guest speakers with an audience of thousands from across the nation at the Fort DeRussy parade field on Waikiki. C/LTC Kaye Marie Alverez, Waimea Menehune Battalion Commander and Miss Kauai Veteran had the honor of delivering a well-received speech at the commemoration.  The cadets walked in the subsequent Pearl Harbor Day parade alongside the Grand Marshall, Ike Schab. It was definitely a date that shall live in infamy!