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From the Images of Old Hawaii website
Photograph by Kat Wade, Honolulu Star-Advertiser
On May 5, 1866, the village of Waterloo, New York was decorated with flags at half mast, draped with evergreens and mourning black, and flowers were placed on the graves of those killed in the Civil War. It was later declared as ‘Decoration Day.’ It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day.
From the Samantha Brown website
People used to visit Vegas to gamble, sip free drinks and fill up at all-you-can-eat buffets. These days, Las Vegas boasts some of the best dining in the world. From celebrity chef-driven fine dining to former Rat Pack haunts and down and dirty dive bars, there’s something for everyone in Sin City.
How long you will live depends a lot on where you live in the United States, a new study of federal health data reveals.
Overall, life expectancy increased for American men and women by slightly more than five years between 1980 and 2014, researchers report.
From the Stars and Stripes website
President Donald Trump’s Pentagon spending plan for 2018 sent to lawmakers on Tuesday includes a new round of base realignments and closures, a proposal that the Defense Department contends could save billions of much-needed dollars but will likely meet stiff opposition on Capitol Hill.
The proposal, which is part of Trump’s Pentagon budget of $639.1 billion, asks Congress to approve a Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, in 2021. Similar requests sought in recent Pentagon budgets proposed by former President Barack Obama’s administration failed to gain any traction, as many lawmakers oppose BRAC, citing potential harms to communities surrounding military bases.
Webmaster Comments: During the 2005 BRAC, the Shipyard and other facilities/organizations were potential closures. The late Senator Dan Inouye worked hard to prevent any major closures or downsizing in Hawaii.
Tomorrow America will observe Memorial Day. For many it is the unofficial start of summer, with family gatherings and barbecues. But we can never lose sight of the true significance of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is when America honors the men and women who DIED while serving in our country’s armed forces.
This should not be confused with Veterans Day when we pay tribute to all who served in the armed forces.
Take time tomorrow to remember America’s fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the different periods of conflicts in our history.
From the Frolic Hawaii website
My cousins call me “Cookie Monster” for good reason. Moist, soft, chewy cookies are my kryptonite. I can never pass one up, whether it’s at a dessert bar, potluck or bakery.
Since today is National Chocolate Chip Day, there’s no better time to dish up a roundup of the island’s best cookies. Criteria included overall taste (a given), addictiveness (would I get it again?), amount of chocolatiness and cookie texture.
In no particular order, here’s a bite of Oahu’s best chewy chocolate chip cookies.
From the nextavenue website
In 2012, Ti Randall of New York City, who has Alzheimer’s disease, had run out of savings. His Social Security and a veteran’s pension helped cover his basic living expenses. But it took Medicaid to provide Randall with other services he needed in order to remain at home.
“He needed companionship and assistance,” says Ann Burgunder, 69, his long-time partner and caregiver. Burgunder, meanwhile, wanted and needed to continue working.
How did the WannaCrypt ransomware attack start? Why did it spread so fast? What kind of an impact did it have? How was the initial attack stopped? What comes next for WannaCrypt?
If you’ve been watching the headlines recently, you already know that the world has now seen one of the largest ransomware attacks ever conducted. The story has captured attention for longer than most digital security stories, and for a good reason. Not only did this attack strike more than a hundred countries and affect critical institutions worldwide, but it has also showcased the efforts of the security community.
Dennis Angelito Reagan Gabriel, Sr., 76, of Hilo died May 14 at his residence. He was born in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He was a retired Master Sergeant with the U.S. Air Force & Hawaii Air National Guard and an Electronic Technician for World Wide Flight Services, member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Fil-Am Golf Club and Tsunami Golf Club.
Survived by wife, Nancy Gabriel of Hilo; daughters, Gigi (Ala Wailani) Gabriel of Hilo, Malia (Henri Wilbur) Gabriel of Hilo; sons, Dennis A.R. (Chassie) Gabriel, Jr. of Hilo, Kekoa Gabriel of Hilo; sisters, Rosaline Domaloan of Honolulu, Carmel (Kent) Lowry of California; brothers, Roger (Donna) Gabriel of Honolulu, Roland (Cyndy) Gabriel of Washington; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nieces & nephews.
Services were held on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. Burial to followed at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2.
Retiree News extends heartfelt sympathy to Dennis’ family and friends.
With the new shorter obituaries in the Star-Advertiser, we sometimes do not post obituaries without additional confirmation from other Guardmembers. Please let Retiree News when a Hawaii Guardmember passes away. Email information to retireenews@gmail.com.
From the Task and Purpose website
Its account of the infamous “rope torture” is extremely vivid, and will make any reader wonder how he could withstand it for minutes, let alone hours.
Accounts of suffering are never easy to read. Sometimes they venture into what might be called torture porn. Other times, they’re just generic inspirational stories. “Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton: An Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in Vietnam ” by Amy Hawk falls in the latter of these categories, but is worth a read for those looking for an account from what might be called an everyman’s journey through the depths of the Hanoi Hilton.
It’s worth pointing out that Hawk is the adopted stepdaughter of the book’s subject, Jim Shively. The book is based on the recorded accounts from Shively and interviews with his contemporaries. As such, it presents a very unblemished account of Shively’s life. It falls a little bit into the category of hagiography instead of biography.
From the Task and Purpose website
Whatever else could be said of President Donald Trump’s successful campaign, he made one promise clear: On his watch, the U.S. military would get a “historic” budget boost.
“As soon as I take office, I will ask Congress to fully eliminate the defense sequester and will submit a new budget to rebuild our military,” Trump said in a highly touted national security speech last September in Philadelphia. “This will increase certainty in the defense community as to funding, and will allow military leaders to plan for our future defense needs.”
From the Military.com website
TRICARE pharmacy fees would rise gradually under a plan included in the Defense Department’s annual budget proposal released this week.
Currently a 30-day supply of generic medication at a retail pharmacy is $10 while a brand-name drug is $24 and drugs outside the formulary $50. Drugs received through the mail-order pharmacy cost less, with a generic medication free, a 90-day supply of brand-name drugs $20 and non-formulary drugs $49. Medication received at a military treatment facility is free. The fees were last changed in 2016.
