IN MEMORY

Claudia Figueroa

CORONA DEL MAR--About 150 war veterans and their families gathered for an

outdoor ceremony Monday at Pacific View Memorial Park to mark the 142nd

Memorial Day.

The crowd listened as members of the American Legion Newport Harbor Post

291 paid a special tribute to post colleagues who recently died. Some at

the cemetery sat in chairs in front of the speakers’ stand, while others

planted themselves firmly in the grass and hoisted American flags.

For some veterans, the holiday commemorated an end to boyhood innocence,

to others it was an act of patriotism that exceeded any other

expectation. But after the loss of any war, one message remains in the

minds of many.

“These people laid down their lives for the freedom we enjoy today,” said

post director Dennis Lahey, who served as master of ceremonies. “Their

message was: ‘We are young, we have died. Remember us. We leave you our

death. Give us a meaning.’ ”

Among the group were Costa Mesa residents Philip and LouisaArnold.

“I come to remember the buddies I’ve lost and honor all the guys who

fought in the war,” said Philip Arnold, who was fought in World War II.

Now in his 70s, Arnold served as a combat engineer in Europe, before

being transferred to the Philippines in 1944.

“This memorial thing is as ancient to [today’s] young generations as the

Civil War was to us,” he added. “But it’s important to keep it alive, so

kids know how men and women have fought for our country’s freedom.”

The Arnolds said they attend the memorial to express their admiration to

officers who supported one another in combat.

“I feel like hugging every gray-haired vet I see, just to thank him,”

said Louisa Arnold, who also served in the Second World War, as a USO

camp performer.

One man for whom the Arnolds have a profound admiration is their

neighbor, retired Army Col. Bob Hammerquist, who joined the couple at the

ceremony.

Hammerquist moved to Costa Mesa five years ago from Virginia. He has been

decorated for his service in three wars: World War ll, Korean War and

Vietnam War.

During his 31-year military career, Hammerquist received 15 medals,

including a President’s Commendation for his efforts in an invasion of

Flammerge, Belgium, and its capture from German troops.

Hammerquist narrowly survived an airborne infantry landing during the

Battle of the Bulge, where 90% casualties were reported. He helped defeat

the Germans at a Rhine River crossing, when he was shot in the chest; he

lost his left lung and was in a hospital for three months. For his

actions, he received a Distinguished Service Cross in 1945.

In all his service, Hammerquist was nominated for five Purple Hearts; he

accepted only three. After the third, he asked the Army to stop awarding

him Purple Hearts, because his mother was receiving notification letters

and it was upsetting her.

“It’s just great to be here,” Hammerquist said modestly Monday.

Even though many years have past since the battles, it is still a very

personal moment for those who survived, Philip Arnold said.

Most importantly for Hammerquist, the Arnolds and others, these kinds of

ceremonies are not a sad occasions, but triumphant ones.