Widow honors husband’s sacrifice at dedication of World War II monument in West Hawai‘i

On a grassy hill overlooking Kua Bay in North Kona, Myrna Horn rearranges a single-strand ti-leaf lei draped across her husband’s grave marker at West Hawai‘i Veterans Cemetery.

“There he is,” she said on Monday as a light rain fell. “Ralph Horn.”

The couple was married for 46 years, when her husband, who retired from the military as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, was laid to rest in 2013 at the age of 92.

Myrna Horn, 82, of Waikōloa, visits her husband on birthdays and anniversaries. Sometimes, she said she stops by just to say hello: “Hey, honey. I’m going to Costco to spend money.”

But on Monday, her visit to the cemetery was extra special. She came to celebrate the unveiling of the site’s first World War II memorial on the 79th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan signed formal surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

It was a bittersweet day, with about 60 million people around the world, the majority civilians, killed in the war.

The new memorial, constructed in three panels, offers a walk-in experience. The back panel provides general information about World War II, including the numbers of lives lost and injured. The right panel is dedicated to the European Theatre, while the left panel focuses on the Pacific Theatre.

Horn’s husband was among those who served in the Pacific. He was stationed in New Guinea.

“He’s a part of this history,” Horn said of her husband. “It’s about time.”

During the ceremony for the memorial, Ralph Horn and 261 additional names were read aloud to honor those World War II veterans buried in the West Hawai‘i cemetery.

“It was nice to hear his name after so long,” Horn said.

The vision for the World War II monument was spearheaded by the West Hawai‘i Veterans Cemetery Development and Expansion Association, which raised the $85,000 that it cost.

Jim Traxler, retired Army officer and Vice President of the expansion association, said the monument was an opportunity to recognize those veterans who fought in the world’s greatest conflict and educate those visiting the memorial about the war.

Several dignitaries were at the ceremony, including U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, who said: “We all know that the war was a defining moment in our greatest generation. Countless heroes from Hawai‘i stepped forward and answered the call to serve, whether in combat or civilian service.”

Mayor Mitch Roth said a lot of the freedoms Americans have is because of those who fought in the war: “They changed the course of the world.”

During the ceremony’s keynote address, Lt. Col. Kaiali‘i “Kai” Kahele gave a detailed history of World War II. From Germany’s march throughout Europe starting Sept. 1, 1939, to the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, which thrust the United States into the conflict.

After the ceremony and dedication of the memorial, Kahele said the event was a blessing and opportunity to reconnect with values and traditions important to the United States.

“It reminds us that freedom is not free,” said Kahele, a former U.S. congressman representing Hawaiʻi. “This memorial is a way to honor our West Hawai‘i veterans.”