Place of Beauty, Place of Sacrifice

LADY COLUMBIA - Punchbowl Cemetery (public domain)

     It seems fitting one day after the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the nearing of Christmas that we speak of a place of serene beauty. Punchbowl, National Cemetery of the Pacific, graced with the Hawaiian name, "Puowaina," loosely translated means “Hill of Sacrifice.” Why should we  speak of such a place of sadness so close to such a holiday of joy? As  the men and women who lie there gave up everything for their people, Jesus Christ, gave up a perfect place, and came to earth for the love of His people, us.

Punchbowl Cemetery  (public domain)

     Covering nearly 116 acres, Punchbowl lies in an old volcano crater, serene and stately, as it stands guard over its wards in the midst of a teeming, busy city. Like entering a quiet chapel from a noisy street, this peaceful place is adorned with white blooming plumeria, umbrella-shaped monkey pod and  Chinese flame trees. Brushed with  fuschia and coral bougainvillea along with seed-ladened  koa,  the crater’s rim blushes. A place of peaceful repose, fresh flowers brought by the public, decorate the graves and are removed only when they become unsightly and faded.

     As one enters  the cemetery “Lady Columbia” stands at the other end above Abraham Lincoln’s quote. Although written  to a woman who had lost five sons in the Civil War, it speaks for all who lie there. “ The solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.” The Courts of the Missing contain the names of 26,280 American servicemen whose dedicatory stone says it all, “In these gardens are recorded the names of Americans who gave their lives in service to their country and whose earthly resting place is known only to God.”  These inscriptions remind loved ones their sacrificial one is not forgotten by God and, hopefully, nor by us, either.  
   

     Although the idea to place a cemetery in Punchbowl was first introduced in 1890, the dream became a necessity to honor America’s war dead during and after  World War II.  Vietnam and Korean soldiers, both men and women, rest  there. It was agreed, that the land would not be sold, but donated. This happened in 1943. The bodies of fallen warriors from  prison camps in Japan and from Wake Island’s fallen arrived first. They  lie next to warriors killed at Guadalcanal, China, Burma, Saipan and Guam, totaling nearly 13,000 from various theaters in the South Pacific.  Some 44,200 military members and their families lie among the quiet and peace of this island place.    

     In August 1991, Punchbowl reached its capacity and today's warriors, like my friend’s husband, Byron, are buried at the State Veterans’ Cemetery in Kaneohe. For more than fifty years on Memorial Day, a beautiful event has occurred. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture invites the public of all ages, including school children to sew lei and bring them to community parks and fire stations. Boy Scouts place the lei on the graves.  These lei decorate the tombstones of all buried in both cemeteries. In 2013, the need totaled 50,000 for both cemeteries with 38,000 for Punchbowl alone. On Oahu, people were encouraged to buy from local flower merchants or use flowers from their own gardens, but flowers come from the other islands, as well. Each year, this customs reminds them of this great military sacrifice and allows them to be a part of this great endeavor.

     

      Many famous people are buried there,  like war-decorated island boy, Daniel Inouye, long-time Senator from Hawaii, Ernest, "Ernie" Pyle, journalist during World War II, and Clara H. Nelson, better known as "Hilo Hattie." But  many more  lie there, just ordinary "Joes" and Marys". They did their duty and loved their country. They will be honored by many, but only God will know their names.  

     Although I attended a Memorial Day service at Punchbowl, my  recommendation is visit when not so many people are bustling around there. This allows the strength of these sacrifices to permeate one’s soul. It also allows one to feel the peace of God in a place so hallowed. 

References


Acres of Honor.100^th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club. Retrieved December 8, 2014  
           from http://acresofhonor.com/history.html

Bega, Rosa, Bourn, Jerry and Torres, Tasa. Punchbowl National Cemetery. Retrieved  
           December  8, 2014 from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~turner/oahu/pnchbwl.htm

HDOA Highlights Local Flowers to Honor Veterans on Memorial Day . Hawaii 
            Department of Agriculture. Retrieved December 8, 2014 from
            http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/news-releases/2013-news-releases/hdoa-highlights-local-              flowers-to-honor-veterans-on-memorial-day/

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific . VA National Cemeteries. US Department of
            Veteran Affairs. Retrieved December 8, 2014 from

             http://www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/nmcp.asp

National Memorial Cemetery of  the Pacific. Retrieved December 8, 2014 from      
             http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/oahu/national-memorial-cemetery-of-the-pacific/