 Good morning. Welcome to the 2016 Black and Canteen Ceremonial. This morning I'd like to introduce to you our honored guests, Council General and Mrs. Sushi Masawa from the Japanese Consulate of Honolulu. Dr. and Mrs. Roya Sugano from Shizuoka, Japan. Mr. Sal Miwa, Board Chairman, Japan America Society of Hawaii. Ms. Carol Houshino, President and Executive Director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. Mr. Houshino Hirano, Director of Blue Marukai. Mr. Shiro Wakita, former World War II Japanese Navy pilot. Colonel Jack DeTour, former World War II Army Air Forces B-25 pilot. Please stand. We recognize you. Thank you. Former World War II Army Air Forces P-51 pilot Captain Jerry Yellen escorted by Ms. Bonnie Haines. Ms. Bonnie Haines is the widow of Marine Corps Major General Fred Haines and the Director of the Iwo Jima Association. Our two active duty officers today are Colonel Kanai Tamagoshi, Japanese Air Civil Self Defense Force and our American Representative Major Don Wright, United States Air Force. Bishop Rilkekan Otto from the Tendai Mission. Chaplain and Mrs. Robert Lawrence from Fall River, Massachusetts. Nicholas Bernice and the Dartmouth College choir. The co-host for this event today is Superintendent Jacqueline Aschwell from the National Park Service and the Executive Director of the Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbor, Dr. Ken. Excuse me. Sorry, I don't mean to talk to you. Mr. Ken DeHoff. Mr. Ken DeHoff is our, excuse me. Ms. Jacqueline Aschwell will be our first speaker. Superintendent. Good morning, tragic. And it can bring out the worst in mankind. There can be glimmers of hope that out of death and destruction can emerge the exemplary version. On June 19, 1945, two American bombers collided midair over the Japanese city of Shizuoka during a bombing. Both air crews were killed in the crash and the raid killed 2,000 Japanese citizens. The lost life, all life, is tragic. Fukumoto Ito, a Japanese farmer, buried the crew members alongside the citizens of Shizuoka who were killed in the crash. He eventually built the Sengen Hill Monuments in hopes of promoting peace between the United States and Japan. It is out of this tragedy that we celebrate and commemorate life, all life, by observing this ceremony. This illustrates the virtue. On behalf of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, World War II Valoran, the Pacific National Monument, partnered with the Pacific Aviation Museum, we would like to welcome you to the 2016 Black McCanteen Ceremony on the 75th anniversary of the attack on O'ahu. We are all here to remember those who lost their lives in that midair collision on that fateful day in 1945. But in a larger sense, we remember all of those who died during the Second World War. And we continue to live in the spirit for which this ceremony was created, in the spirit of peace, passion, and reconciliation. Again, well, our next speaker is Council General Masawa. It's great pleasure to know that, for my fear, I want your blessing to join all of you in 2016 Black McCanteen Ceremony. Almost a year ago, I had a plan. I wondered what it is, many questions. Is it allowed to behave every year in the Iona Memorial and who is organizing it? I could not know well, even after the great explanation, but after I met Dr. Sugano, had spent in the ceremony, had his passionate explanations, and also acquainted with the great good friend of Dr. Sugano, I began to think that it is a very important ceremony. The story began with the act by a devotee of this misalito to give the 29th American Journal, who was engaged in the era of Shizuoka, a proper burial alongside the local vegetarians. He continued the modest ceremony annually. And after a few days, Dr. Sugano carried out the tradition for you. This year marks also the 25th year that Dr. Sugano has attended. The poor harbour commemorations, such long-standing passionate acts by Mr. Ito and Dr. Sugano have attracted many people's attention, many people's sympathy, and many people's distrust. This chanting itself is simple but very special one. This chanting is built with people's praise, for peace, people's hope, and people's strong commitment to strengthen the U.S.-Japan friendship. It has held people's strength from the bottom, hope, and motive, hearing through reconciliation and fostered a great friendship between the United States and Japan. And I am also gradually touched by Dr. Sugano and his commemorating the 75th anniversary of the poor harbour. I presented commendations to Dr. Sugano and also his team, including other members of the U.S., and Mr. Teofu, and Mr. Masaki, Mr. Keremeya, and also Mr. John B. G. Gio, and Mr. Ara, and Mr. Koichi. It was a great pleasure and honor for me to conduct the ceremony on November 13th in the New World's First World War II, in my residence. In this commemorative year, I have initiated a few small projects, cooperation with many friends and organizations. This commemoration was also one of them. And also, we are working on some project, rather in the preparation for it, I found that the program's ceremony was very, very meaningful, and gave a big heart to the new chapter. The days before yesterday, we got very good news from Tokyo and Washington. Prime Minister Abe and President Obama, we come here on 26th and 27th December, and very respect to those who lost their lives. Here, we are truly history-making visitors, want to be remembered for decades to come, but I believe that such a big event could not be realized without a long-standing, passionate individual's difference. Expressing my heartful thanks to all those who have contributed to realizing this event, and for all participants today, I would like to conclude my remarks. Thank you very much, and Mahalo. We'd like to call to the podium at this time Mr. Kendehoff for his remarks. To our dignitaries, our distinguished guests, visitors, and this magnificent choir behind me, aloha. What a beautiful day here in Hawaii. We have the opportunity to stand on this memorial and be able to share a story that is so touching to so many of us. The Black and Tantin ceremony began 71 years ago, now joins two nations with the hope of a world that will join together to seek peace on Earth. 2016 marks the 44th year that Dr. Kiroya Sugano has shared the tragic story of 2B29s, a Black and Tantin, and the selfless acts of Mr. Fukumatsu Itoh. Let me tell you a little bit about Dr. Sugano. He's dedicated his life to two noble causes, saving lives as a physician, specializing in the treatment of kidney disease, and, second, pursuing everlasting peace and mutual understanding. This message of love or fellow man, peace, reconciliation has reached thousands of people around the world through the annual ceremony both here and in Shizuoka. Thinking of the younger generations, so many of you that are here with maybe a question of why we do this, to learn to communicate together, to have the opportunity to not only use today's technology to share a message, but to be able to take that message and communicate it to each other so that we never experience a crash like happened on June 20th, 1945, a war that was started December 7th, 1941, or events like I experienced in Vietnam, of where, again, we had two nations that had a disagreement. We remind ourselves of the need to communicate peace and the understanding among all of us. We honor Dr., we honor, we are honored to know, Dr., and Mrs. Sagano as friends and proud to promote his good work at the Pacific Aviation Museum. The blackened canteen has become a symbol of the horrors of war. For these past years, it represents the humanitarianism that resides in the hearts of the Japanese people. Public awareness of this trait has become, has kept it alive through the retelling of the story of Mr. Oto and Dr. Sagano. Their dedication is a model for all mankind. The blackened canteen ceremony has become an important part of the annual December 7th commemoration program here at the Arizona Memorial and at the World War II, Valor and the Pacific Monument. The National Park and the Pacific Aviation Museum have a mission very close to each other to preserve history, to be the guardians of artifacts of knowledge and places so that the world can see them in a more pristine manner. Thank you, National Park, for what you do. We're honored to be partners with you. Today we're joined by three World War II pilots. There's a number of other pilots in here, and I want to thank you for joining us also. Let me tell you a little bit about these three pilots. Colonel Jack Detour began flying at 18. He joined the Army Air Corps while graduating from high school in Portland, Oregon. He flew B-25s, did it in New Guinea, later in the Philippines and on to Okinawa. And then Jack got out of the service, became a high school teacher and a coach until the Korean conflict started as he was recalled to active duty. When he flew the boxcar, the C-119, he did that out of Japan also. This is his third year that he's participated in this ceremony. Jack, thank you. It's nice to see you. Captain Jerry Yellen also began flying at 18 when he enlisted as an aviation cadet in 1942. He graduated from fighter pilot school and then he moved here to Hawaii flying B-40s. It's one of the first that learned how to fly the B-51s and then escorted B-29 bobbers. From Guam and Iwo Jima into Japan. He flew the last combat mission of World War II, August 14, 1945. The day the war ended. Jerry's also a noted author. In 2008, he wrote the book Black and Canteen, which his ceremony is about. Jerry, thank you so much for being here. Mr. Shiro Wakita began flying at 18 or 17 also in a special Imperial Japanese naval flight program Yokara. This flight training was not completed, however, when the war ended. So we returned to civil to civilian life in the travel industry working many years to promote the Olympics and peace. We remained a member of the Unabarakai Association of former zero pilots. Each of these men's have stories that go much deeper than we're allowed to share. Dr. Sugano, we're honored to join you today. Thank you so much for being here again. Thank you, Ken. Thank you to our veterans that are here. It's my pleasure to now introduce the man that Ken talked about. I got to know him in 1992 for the first time. We were fresh from the 50th anniversary. President had come and spoken words that he had to rank her in his heart. Perhaps a theme for this ceremony today. I want to recognize someone before I call Dr. Suganova that deserves the credit for bringing this to us, making us aware of what was then a difficult ceremony. The atmosphere of reconciliation was not as, let's say, bountiful as it is today. I've known John D. Virgilio for years. He opened up avenues of history to the Japanese Asian on that fateful day and to the Battle of Midway. He made me aware of the history that was right underneath my feet, had it translated so that I could pass it on, not only in articles but talks that gave. John, would you please stand and recognize Dr. Suganova. I know the light side of him and the heavy side of him, but I've never met a doctor who had an F-86 on his roof. He is a pleasant and wonderful man. I bring him Dr. Suganova and the Black and Ken team. Please pardon me my broken English because my English is just under construction of heaven. I have been holding U.S.-Japan joint memorial service in Shizuoka since 1970. It's a Black and Ken team ceremony. Black and Ken team only one half of it was held during the war in Shizuoka. I've been there since 1972, this ceremony. I would like to take this opportunity to show great respect for both the U.S. Navy and the consulate general. To host the Black and Ken team ceremony could never have happened without a tremendous understanding from the U.S. Navy, Admiral Gates, Mr. Gary, and many, many American friends. I also would like to thank consulate general Pissawa for making and supporting such a decision. When I visited Palo Alto at the 50th anniversary after World War II ended, I did not know this day would ever come. I'm certain that this memorial service will be a reach between Japan and U.S. friendship on the review for peace. Thank you. We begin now the pouring ceremony. We ask that the following individuals will join Gary, Myers, Colonel Myers, towards a dedication well. Dr. Sugano, consulate general Masalash, Mr. Wakita, Mr. Varano, Bishop Ara, Colonel Tom Toshik, part of this ceremony today. I'm forward to the felt on his face today. Good personnel, all branches of the service. We gather in the name of whatever our God may be on this occasion. We gather in that spirit of unity. And recognizing those who labor in keeping the symbolism of the lack of canteen within our consciousness that we can recall the power that brings us together on this occasion. As we observe the impression of the pilot's hand on this canteen, oh Lord, we pray that your hands will make impressions on our spirit to unify our efforts into a brotherhood of humanity. May the impression of your hands in our lives motivate us to seek our common heritage that speaks of your love. And may the impression of your hands on our hearts find that power that surpasses all human understanding. And just as the flags of our two countries lie together at the memorial site on Sangin Hill, may they represent a lasting goodwill of friendship. But like the canteen with its dentists and its marks and its bruises, it survived because someone needed a lasting memory that should never be forgotten. These 71 years, oh Lord, of its existence have provided a personal scars, wounds, and damage to many of our lives. But we too have survived because of your grace, oh God. May the water of life symbolized by the contents of this canteen show us that life is eternal because of our love for peace. Indeed, oh God, Shinosaki referred to the raid in which this canteen was recovered as a return to the dark age. But it's our prayer today, oh God, that through the power of reconciliation, through the enlightenment and the worth of human life, and through the wisdom have proclaimed the truth of a peace on earth. Indeed, those days are now transformed into a new day in which the words break truth of love one another. So teach us, oh God, that goodwill has no boundaries. And it is our prayer that this lacking canteen always remain as a symbol of life. Keep the spirit of the peacemakers among us motivated in fulfilling your command and righteousness exalted our nation. May the Lord continue to bless those who were the victims of that fateful day in 1945, oh God, so that we may through them turn any weakness, the results that hate could do us strength that unites human God, that in our sorrow had lost, we find comfort that surpasses any misunderstandings. And in our humanity, we seek to find a resolution that will always bring peace. So may the Lord make his life to face the shy upon those that are settled here today, that through their efforts we have to the meaning of the words that were spoken by Judy Saccano, when she write, oh Lord, to rejoice in our diversity knowing that it is our greatest strength and to describe unceasingly from one world united in harmony, peace, and prosperity. God love you, may the peace of all the things until I become to know and appreciate the vitalness now and forevermore. Peace, Shalom, and amen. Dear Reverend Lawrence, we ask, as these proceedings come to an end, that those of you who have not had the opportunity to drop flower petals in the well of the USS Arizona Memorial do so. I'd like to thank Colonel Myers for his assistance and partnership on this ceremony. I thank each and every one of you for attending, getting up early and celebrating this beautiful day here at Pearl Harbor. These proceedings are now closed.