On November 11, 2017, the Philippine Consulate General joined Hawaii State Officials, US military officials, consular corps and the public in Veterans Day ceremonies held that day to honor the country’s veterans. At 9:00 AM, Philippine Consul General Gina Jamoralin offered a wreath during a wreath laying ceremony organized by the Oahu Veterans Council at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific or “Punchbowl”. The veterans honored both living and deceased served during the two World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, the Cold War, the Gulf wars, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every year the Oahu Veterans Council organizes the memorial ceremony to honor nearly 23 million military veterans and 57 million family members. US Pacific Commander Admiral Harry Harris Jr. was invited as keynote speaker and Mrs. Mary McEldowney as guest speaker.
In the afternoon, Hawaii Governor David Ige hosted a Governor’s Veterans Day Ceremony at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe where the Governor specially honored a Filipino WW II veteran, 1st Sgt. Domingo Los Banos as an example of the valor and service to the country of his generation . Los Banos was one of the many Filipino WW II veterans who were honored last month with a US Congressional Gold Medal for WW II Filipino veterans. Later, Governor Ige, Hawaii National Guard Adjutant Major General Arthur Logan, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and veteran Domingo Los Banos, together offered the State Wreath. US Pacific Command officials led by Admiral Harry Harris Jr. also offered the military wreath. Consul General Jamoralin, on behalf of the Philippine Consulate General , offered a lei, as well as other members of the consular corps, veterans organizations and State officials. END
