Veterans and their families from all over the island went to Punchbowl last night for one purpose: To light a candle in memory of the nation's war heroes.

Some said private thank-yous. To Maurice Henderson, who fought in Korea. To Gus Uhler, who died in Vietnam. To Ed La Valle for fighting in Vietnam. To John McNaught, who lost his life in Naples, Italy.

Others came with a general-purpose thank-you, out of a sense of respect for their fathers, brothers and friends.

"Today is the day we honor those who can't be here," said Ray Rapalee, a Mililani resident who roared into the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific yesterday with his motorcycle club, Waipahu Hawaii Country Chapter HOG. "We come here on bike because we have the same camaraderie that we had while serving."

Last night was the 19th annual Memorial Day Eve Candlelight Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. It was sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Post 10583 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American-Vietnamese Coalition of Hawai'i. More than 300 people, nearly half of them veterans, listened to the 25th Infantry Division Band and a special tribute from the VNTV Ohana POW singing group.

Joseph "Jake" Fryar came to remember a shipmate and friend who didn't make it back from combat and is buried in a cemetery in Ohio.

"For most people Memorial Day is a personal thing," Fryar said. "I haven't had the opportunity to visit Gus on the Mainland, but it is my goal before I go to the great beyond to visit Gus Uhler and his family because they made a sacrifice, too."

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and U.S. Rep. Ed Case both attended last night's event.

"Our purpose here today is to remember our national warriors and to never forget the lessons of Vietnam on this 31st anniversary of the fall of Saigon," cemetery director Gene Castagnetti said.

He urged veterans to call, e-mail or write elected officials and urge them to not "abandon what we've done in Iran and Iraq. Today we sit in the long shadows of our fallen heroes."

With 30 years under his belt, retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jesse Baker saw combat in the Korean War and in Vietnam. Baker, one of the main speakers, praised the efforts of his fellow motorcyclists who roared into the quiet cemetery after meeting at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park earlier in the day and riding en masse to Punchbowl.

Baker coordinated the ride, which wound through Waikiki and Kapahulu. Halfway through the ride, the band of bikers were escorted by Honolulu police.

It was the 19th year for motorcyclists and members of the Vietnam Veterans/Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club to attend. Baker said the first year there were 17; yesterday there were 200.

"I'm getting all choked up," Baker said. "God bless all of you and my beautiful America."

'In shadows of fallen heroes'

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.