John R. Rowe Post 17, Honolulu, Hawaii

I flew from Guam to Oahu last night and am on the plane to the American Legion National Convention in Louisville via Atlanta now; arrive tomorrow.

👀 Looking like tropical storm later hurricane 🌀 Moke will track south of the Hawaiian Islands volcano 🌋🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️. Unfortunately, the Big Island and Maui are going to get a ton of rain 🌧️

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/stories/victory-over-japan-day

Victory Over Japan Day (VJ Day) - The End of the WW2 | Royal British Legion Explore the history of VJ Day, marking Japan’s surrender in 1945, and learn about the vital role of Commonwealth and Allied forces in the Far East campaign.

Today is Navajo Code Talkers Day. Code Talkers from 14 different Native American nations served in World War I and World War II, including more than 400 Navajo Marines during World War II.

Native American languages were rarely written and almost entirely unknown to enemy nations on other continents. After the war, the Japanese chief of intelligence acknowledged they never broke the Navajo code.

The Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress has launched a new online exhibit honoring the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. Check it out. ⬇️
https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2026/08/honoring-navajo-code-talkers-day/?loclr=fbloc

Images: (1) U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Chester Nez looks on during the rededication of Platoon 382 Hall, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., April 4, 2014. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kathryn K. Bynum.

(2) Navajo Code Talker Samuel T. Holiday, a native of Kayenta, Ariz., listens to an incoming radio transmission during a visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 28, 2015. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Adrianna R. Lincoln.

(3) Navajo Code Talker Roy Hawthorn, a native of Lupton, Arizona, speaks to a group of Marines during a visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 28, 2015. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Adrianna R. Lincoln.

August 2026, two Navajo Code Talkers from World War II are still alive: Peter MacDonald and Thomas H. Begay.

07Aug2026: National Purple Heart Day is observed annually on August 7th to honor military service members who have been wounded or killed in combat. It marks the creation of the original award, the Badge of Military Merit, established on 07Aug1782, General George Washington created the precursor award to recognize singular acts of bravery and merit. Re-established in 1932 on the bicentennial of Washington's birth to specifically honor those wounded or killed by enemy action. It remains the oldest military decoration in continuous use for U.S. service members. Celebrated on each August 7, National Purple Heart Day offers Americans a special opportunity to say “Thank You” to the nearly two million brave men and women who fought for our nation’s freedom, and bear the physical scars of war [https://www.purpleheartmission.org/national-purple-heart-day]. To salute these brave Americans service and sacrifice, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission hosts a national tribute ceremony each August 7. The event offers Purple Heart recipients the chance to gather together to share personal narratives about the true cost of freedom and what it takes to protect our great nation. The National Purple Heart Honor Mission is an approved 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose strategic objective is to pay tribute to our nation’s combat wounded and killed in action through special outreach and educational programming. Through Purple Heart Patriot Project Missions, celebration of National Purple Heart Day and other public events and programs, we engage people of all ages by telling the stories of our nation’s heroes.

03Aug2026: National Ernie Pyle Day is observed annually on August 3rd to honor the birth and legacy of the Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II war correspondent. It celebrates his profound impact on American journalism as the empathetic "voice of the common soldier." WWI USN Veteran Ernie Pyle [Born 03Aug1900 near Dana, Indiana - 18Apr1945 KIA by Japanese machine-gun fire on Ie Shima (now Iejima) located just a few miles off the coast of Okinawa, Japan]. Attended Indiana University and edited the student newspaper. Won the 1944 Pulitzer Prize for his intimate frontline dispatches from WWII. He was buried twice before permanently relocating him in 1949 to Punchbowl Cemetery under pleasant tree-cast shade, plot D 109 beneath an unembellished gray marker between two unidentified soldiers. For a man who paid the ultimate price having immortalized the ordinary GIs, it may be the greatest tribute of all.

👀 Looking ahead, Kauai & Niihau are within a Hurricane 🌀 Fausto cone of possibilities….

The City and County of Honolulu joined communities across the nation on Wednesday in commemorating America’s 250th birthday with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence at Honolulu Hale.

Hosted by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, the ceremony began promptly at 12:00 p.m., echoing the historic moment on July 8, 1776, when Colonel John Nixon publicly read the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia’s Independence Square before a crowd of citizens. That first public reading, held four days after the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration, marked a defining moment in the birth of the United States.

Exactly 250 years later, Honolulu joined cities throughout the country in honoring that legacy by gathering at noon for a public reading of the Declaration. Mayor Rick Blangiardi began reading, followed by local youth and COL Ed Cruickshank finished the reading.

The event celebrated the nation’s founding while reaffirming the enduring principles of liberty, equality, and self-government that continue to inspire Americans today.

The ceremony served as both a tribute to the vision of the nation’s founders and a reminder of the shared responsibility to preserve the freedoms secured through their courage and sacrifice.

As communities nationwide marked this milestone anniversary, Honolulu’s observance reflected the unity, patriotism, and enduring spirit that have defined the United States for two and a half centuries.

12Jul1930 Honoring VA’s 96th Birthday 🎂 is an important milestone in our history. President Herbert Hoover signed the executive order that created what we now know as the Department of Veterans Affairs. For 96 years, VA grew, changed, and adapted to better serve those who serve our country. From its early days to today, VA’s mission remains clear: to care for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Every advancement is rooted in that promise.