National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is located in Punchbowl Crater (Pūowaina in Hawaiian--pū-o-waina means "hill of placing human sacrifices"; in ancient times, Punchbowl was used as a site for human sacrifices). Nestled among the mountains, the cemetery is at once peaceful and removed from modern life, while still offering spectacular and majestic views of downtown Honolulu and, in the distance, Diamondhead Crater.

Since the cemetery was dedicated on September 2, 1949, 34,000 veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam war have been buried there (including famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle). The Honolulu Memorial at the cemetery includes ten "Courts of the Missing" that are constructed of marble slabs on which are engraved the names of 28,788 military personnel who are missing in action or were lost or buried at sea in the Pacific during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Courts of the Missing flank a wide marble staircase that leads up to the Court of Honor, which bears a statue of Lady Columbia, who is reported to represent all grieving mothers. At the foot of the stairs, there is an inscription that reads:

IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED
THE NAMES OF AMERICANS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE
IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

The inscription below the statue of Lady Columbia, taken from Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby, reads:

THE SOLEMN PRIDE
THAT MUST BE YOURS
TO HAVE LAID
SO COSTLY A SACRIFICE
UPON THE ALTAR
OF FREEDOM

There is a small chapel within the memorial, which is also featured in this slideshow.

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