Photo By Sgt. Ian Ives | Cadets of Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps from James Campbell High School,...... read more read more
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WAIANAE, Hawaii – Units of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, came together to form a marching platoon, color guard and provided a HMMWV for the 33rd Veterans Day parade in Waianae, Nov. 7.
Soldiers of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd SBCT, the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd SBCT, and the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd SBCT, drove to Waianae that Saturday morning to spend time in the local community and honor our veterans, past and present.
The brigade has been the supporting the Waianae parade since the first one over 30 years ago in 1979.
This year Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Macdonald, a native of Calgary, Canada and the medical platoon sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-21st Inf. Reg., was designated as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the event.
“I think this has always been part of the military life and always will be,” said Macdonald. “We have to get off post and interact with the community. The community likes it because they can connect with us whether they, or a loved one of theirs, has served.”
While the parade is mainly to honor veterans, it also serves to better relationships between Soldiers and civilians of the surrounding community.
“The purpose of this parade is to create awareness to the civilians of what our military does,” said Naeole. “This is also a chance for us to honor all Soldiers who help out with the community and spend their recreation time in Waianae.”
Rocky Naeole, a retired Army veteran and the president of the Waianae Military Civilian Advisory Council, was in charge of coordinating the parade between the community and the 2nd SBCT. Through him Macdonald was able to provide the necessary support for the parade.
“As far as coordination, working with the Waianae Military Civilian Advisory Council was easy,” said Macdonald. “The organization is very squared away: When I called I was given all the correct information by the president with no problems.”
This day was a day to honor all service members, but more importantly to honor those who have fought in war to help maintain the freedom of our county.
“Events such as these help remind civilians that we exist and that we are playing a major part in what happens in the world today,” said Macdonald. “We still have men and women in harms way, some who have made the ultimate sacrifice, so this is a way to honor and make people aware of what we do.”
The parade was an opportunity for Soldiers and civilians to share a common ground of honoring those who have fought for our country.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2015 22:21 |
| Story ID: | 181658 |
| Location: | WAIANAE, HI, US |
| Hometown: | CALGARY, AB, CA |
| Hometown: | WAIANAE, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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