GOVERNOR LINGLE PRESENTS $33,000 IN PRIVATE DONATIONS TO KOREAN WAR VETERANS
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2003
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle and Adjutant General Robert Lee today presented a $33,000 check to the Friends of the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Korean War, Inc. One hundred percent of the funds were collected through private donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals to assist in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Earlier this month, when it became clear that $30,000 in state funds that were appropriated for the commemoration events were not guaranteed due to the state’s tight fiscal situation, the Department of Defense (DOD) and Office of Veterans Services (OVS) began working with the Friends of the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration to find alternative funding sources.
On July 7, the Department of Defense announced it would provide $18,000 from its budget to help fund the planned events, and would seek assistance from the private sector to make up the balance. The private donations exceeded the original $30,000 appropriation, and as a result, no state funds will be needed to complete the 50th anniversary activities.
“Once again, the generous aloha spirit of Hawai`i prevails,” said Governor Lingle. “We are grateful to the private sector, the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans Services and other organizations for their efforts to raise these funds. Our Korean War veterans served admirably 50 years ago, and today, through the generosity of the people of Hawai`i, we are proud to honor them for their sacrifice and bravery.”
“We are overwhelmed at the generosity shown to our Korean War veterans,” said Major General Robert Lee, the state’s adjutant general. “The Department of Defense and Office of Veterans Services look forward to continuing to work with the private sector and the community to find creative solutions and partnerships that benefit our veterans and active duty military personnel.”
Governor Lingle also issued a proclamation declaring July 27, 2003, as Korean War Veterans Day in Hawai`i in honor of the six million American servicemen and women from all states and U.S. territories who served in the war. Hawai`i lost 456 service personnel in the Korean War, the highest number per capita of any other state or territory.
Individual Donors:
- Governor Linda Lingle
- Ms. P. Pasha Baker, U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador for Hawai`i
- Mr. Russ Fugueiroa
- Senator Fred Hemmings
- Mr. Richard Higa
- Mr. Gilbert Hough
- Mr. & Mrs. Arata Iwamuro
- Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Klompus
- Ms. June Lee
- Major General and Mrs. Robert Lee
- Mr. Walter Ozawa
- Mr. Gilbert Tam
- Representative Cynthia Thielen
Corporate Donors:
- Akimeka, LLC – Mr. Vaughan Vasconellas, President
- Bank of Hawai`i – Mr. Michael E. O’Neill, Chairman and CEO
- Central Pacific Bank – Mr. Clinton L. Arnoldus, Chairman and CEO
- City & County of Honolulu – Mayor Jeremy Harris (in-kind donations)
- Cryptek
- Diamond Head Seafoods – Mr. Michael Irish, President
- First Hawaiian Bank – Ms. Lily Yao, Vice Chairman, Retired
- Island Insurance – Mr. Colbert Matsumoto, Chairman & CEO
- Navatek Ltd. – Mr. Steven Loui, President
- Pacific Shipyards International – Mr. Bill Clifford, President
- Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP – Mr. Art Tokin, Managing Partner
- P&R Water Taxi – Mr. Charlie Pires, President
- The PMA Group – Mr. John Hawkins, Government Relations & Legislative Counsel
- Yummy Management Company – Mr. Peter Kim, President
- 21st Century Systems, Inc.
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Contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: 586-0034
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: 586-0034
