Department Of Interior

NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Kathryn Harrington at 202/208-5848 or
For Immediate Release: Jan. 11, 2004
Russell Pang at 808/382-7023
 
Secretary Norton and Governor Lingle Honor Outstanding Volunteers at USS Arizona Memorial
Ten National Park Service Volunteers From Hawaii Receive "Take Pride in America Secretarial Award" For 3,000+ Hours of Service Devoted to Preserving the USS Arizona Memorial
 

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Hawai`i Governor Linda Lingle honored 10 volunteers from Hawai`i with the “Take Pride in America Secretarial Award” for devoting over 3,000 hours each to the maintenance of the National Park Service’s USS Arizona National Memorial. The awards ceremony, held Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, at the Honolulu memorial, was a tribute to selfless individuals, who have collectively committed in excess of 60,000 hours to preserving a national shrine.

“Patriotism can take many forms. These 10 patriots, seven of whom are survivors of Pearl Harbor, have demonstrated their love of country through an extraordinary personal commitment to the USS Arizona Memorial,” said Secretary Norton. “As good stewards of national history and public land, they are a great example for all Take Pride in America volunteers.”

“Through their volunteer efforts, these caring individuals have honored both our nation and our state,” said Governor Lingle. “By sharing their time, talents and their personal experiences, these patriots serve as ideal role models for all generations of Americans.”

About the Awardees

Mrs. Hilma Chang

  • Pearl Harbor civilian survivor
  • Hawai`i native
  • Recently celebrated 10th anniversary as a volunteer with the park

Mr. Ray Emory

  • Pearl Harbor military survivor
  • Park volunteer since mid-1980s
  • Often called on to authenticate evidence and information concerning the 1941 attack on O'ahu

Mr. Richard Fiske

  • Pearl Harbor military survivor
  • Park volunteer since 1982
  • Enjoys playing his bugle during the park’s special events and observations

Gilbert Hatter

  • Park volunteer since 1997
  • Has provided countless hours of interpretation to park visitors

Everett Hyland

  • Pearl Harbor military survivor
  • Park volunteer since 1995
  • As a Navy radioman gravely wounded during attack on Pearl Harbor, shares his personal story with park visitors

Stanley Igawa

  • Park volunteer since 1998
  • As a Japanese-American transferred to a relocation center in 1942, shares his personal story with park visitors

Robert Kinzler

  • Pearl Harbor military survivor
  • Park volunteer since 1985
  • One of the park’s longest serving volunteers, has provided many times over 3,000 hours of interpretation, while also serving as President of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Aloha Chapter

John Newton

  • Park volunteer since 1982
  • Recently volunteered with Global Volunteers Organization teaching English to students in Rota, Spain

Herb Weatherwax

  • Pearl Harbor military survivor
  • Hawai`i native
  • A park volunteer since 1986, spends many hours sharing his war-time experiences with park visitors

Warren Verhoff (posthumously honored)

  • Pearl Harbor military survivor
  • A park volunteer from 1991 to 2003, shared his experience as a Navy radioman in December 1941 with countless park visitors

About Take Pride in America

Take Pride in America is a national partnership that aims to seek, support and recognize volunteers who work to improve our national parks, wildlife refuges, public lands, cultural and historic sites, playgrounds and other recreation areas. With close to 100 partners, Take Pride involves federal, state and local government, conservation and recreation organizers and top national corporations and organizations. Together, we protect and enhance the special legacy all Americans share – our public lands that cover one in every three acres across the nation. Find out more about volunteering and Take Pride in America at www.takepride.gov.




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