From left: Veterans Leo Tanaka, Frank Tanaka and Victor Muraoka.

San Fernando VFW Post 4140 commemorated Memorial Day by paying respects to friends and family members at the annual dinner held at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center in Pacoima.

Eddie Ohara led the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the ceremony. All names were called by Jen Hamamoto to respectfully honor each soldier.

Sally Hamamoto, 98, who is a Gold Star mother, placed a carnation in memory of her brother, Medal of Honor recipient Kiyoshi Muranaga. Eiji Sato honored the kupuna (honored elders).

Guest speaker Ken Hayashi.

The keynote speaker, Ken Hayashi, was introduced by Ken Mui, SFVJACC board member and Vietnam veteran. Hayashi, who serves as president of the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance, spoke about the memorial located at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo.

He described the patriotism of those 1,200 fallen American veterans of Japanese ancestry, whose names are etched on its walls.The Memorial Court honors over a century of sacrifice and service from the Spanish American War to Afghanistan. With the help of then JACCC President Min Tonai, who was a Korean War veteran, it found a home.

Jeff Mui played “Taps” at the end of the program. The well-attended event was catered by Cherrystones.

The Coordinating Council organizations were represented by Steve Curiel, Shin Ito, Pastor Paul Iwata, June Kageyama, Bing Lau, Joy Longworth, Doug Nakada, Kazuhiko Nakanishi, Keiko Nakazawa, Kyoko Oda, Margaret Takimoto, Rev. Yukari Torii, Toshi Toda, Kiyo Watanabe, May Wood, and Mas Yamashita.