The family of Command Sergeant Major Edwin Maunakea has requested the presence and participation of the Patriot Guard Riders at the Funeral Service and Interment of their Loved One.
Command Sergeant Major Maunakea's long and distinguished career in the US Army began in Hawaii shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and continued until his retirement at Fort Hood as a Command Sergeant Major in 1978. He was a combat veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and was twice a prisoner of war. His involvement in military activities continued until the day of his death. He served on many boards promoting military issues and served as director of the Korean War Veterans Association for several years. He was known throughout the world for spreading the Spirit of Aloha, both in Europe and the US. He was also well known throughout the state for his singing and musical presentations of authentic Hawaiian music, and his troupe of hula dancers performed frequently. As the president of Killeen's Multi-Ethnic Cultural & Arts Association of Central Texas, he constantly promoted the talents and cultures of the diverse population in the Fort Hood area. A long-time resident of Killeen, Edwin was extremely active in civic and cultural affairs, to the extent that the mayor of the city declared an Edwin Maunakea Day in his honor in 2001. Edwin's full obituary may be found here: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Edwin-Maunakea&lc=1795&pid=176601558&mid=6684638
Flagline Establishment: 1155 +/- Once the Funeral Service begins; we will strike the flagline and prepare to POSSIBLY participate in the procession. The decision will be made during the Funeral Service.
Staging Location: The cul-de-sac between the Walk of Heroes and the Memorial Shelter at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery located off TX 195 just south of Killeen, TX (http://tinyurl.com/CenTexVetsCeme)
Setup & Briefing: Upon clearance and at the direction of the Ride Captain, we will move to the shelter, set up the flags, be briefed and await arrival of the procession.
