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Helping the Living by Caring for the Dead
by Paul E. Truesdell Jr., April 17, 2000
Paul E. Truesdell Jr. submits this follow-up
piece describing the efforts of the local VFW to clean up and maintain
the International Cemetery of Okinawa, Japan.
"Helping The Living By Caring For The Dead" is the motto of Okinawa VFW
(Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) Post #9723 at Okinawa
Prefecture, Japan. This is in reference to the monthly grass trimming
and general clean up of the International Cemetery, Tomari, Naha, Okinawa.
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Click to enlarge |
According to Kelly Anderson, Chairman of the committee responsible for
the overseeing of the international cemetery, in March of 1999 the VFW
assumed the responsibility of caring for the cemetery. The first cleanup
day the grass was knee high and the cemetery grounds were covered with
the litter of months; perhaps years. A U.S. Marine Corps 5-ton truck was
employed during that cleanup and five truckloads of trash were taken away
and disposed of. The one day scheduled for that particular clean up turned
into two days and the volunteers making the clean up worked long and hard.
Today, because of a large volunteer program, the International Cemetery
is kept free of litter, and the lawns are trimmed one Sunday, each and
every month. In addition, Kelly Anderson with his co-chairman, Harry Thomas,
under the auspices of the VFW, perform burial ceremonies when requested
by the families of the deceased, and hold an annual Memorial Day service
at the cemetery.
- Paul E. Truesdell, Jr. [petjr@nirai.ne.jp]
Retired from the U.S. Navy, Paul lives in Okinawa with his
wife, children and grandchildren, and is employed as a photographer
for the U.S. Marine Corps. He has a BA in English and Asian Studies
from the University of Maryland, Far Eastern Division. Often spends
his time on genealogy, fishing, photography, and studying Okinawan
history and culture.
Editor's Note: Please visit the preceding article, "The
International Cemetery of Tomari" also by Mr. Truesdell.
Reader Responses
- 04-25-2000, Peggy Rogers [PFR55@HOTMAIL.COM]
"A big Thank you to the VFW POST 9723. ITS NICE TO KNOW SOMEONE
STILL CARES! "
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