This holiday weekend, as you see family and friends and enjoy life on beautiful Maui, take time to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day and remember our soldiers, past and present.

One of Hawaii’s most famous soldiers, the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a World War II Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his valor with the U.S. Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team, was outspoken in his campaign to restore Memorial Day as a time to remember and honor Americans who died in service to our country.

The following comment was made by Inouye in 1999, but he made similar remarks before Congress from 1987 to 2012: “Mr. President, in our effort to accommodate many Americans by making the last Monday in May, Memorial Day, we have lost sight of the significance of this day to our nation. Instead of using Memorial Day as a time to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans in combat, many Americans use the day as a celebration of the beginning of summer. My bill would restore Memorial Day to May 30 and authorize our flag to fly at half-mast on that day. In addition, this legislation would authorize the President to issue a proclamation designating Memorial Day and Veterans Day as days for prayer and ceremonies honoring American veterans. This legislation would help restore the recognition our veterans deserve for the sacrifices they have made on behalf of our nation.”

Here in our community, soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice from World War II through today’s conflicts in the Middle East are honored each year by the West Maui Veterans Club.

On Memorial Day, take time to thank and honor Kelly Bolor, Jay Cajimat and the rest of Lahaina’s Beloved War Dead: Clarence Aki, Matsuei Ajitomi, Tokio Ajitomo, Jaime Barreto, Vincent Bedoya, Giichi Chinen, Manuel Freitas, Takeo Fujiyama, Katsumi Harada, Masami Higuchi, Susumu Imano, Kenneth Kaaihue, Michael Kaaihue, Lincoln Kaumeheiwa, Sadao Kawamoto, Tadashi Miyahira, Akeji Morinaga, Gary R. Naganuma, Martin Naganuma, Gary A. Nakaima, Kosei Nakamura, Hideichi Nakata, Albert Neizman, Masayoshi Oba, Sanichi Oba, Hiroshi Oku, Masanao Otake, Warren Prescott, Walter Rickard, Nobumi Shibao, Nobuo Shishido, Jiro Suzawa, Hitoshi Taguchi, Tadashi Wakabayashi and Mitsuichi Yoshigai.

Keep these heroes, as well as the soldiers of today and their families waiting for them at home, in your thoughts and prayers on Memorial Day.