Dennis and Karen Sakuma placed bird of paradise flowers from their Mililani yard yesterday on the grave of Shigeo "Joe" Takata, their uncle and a soldier in the famed 100th Infantry Battalion, who died in combat in Italy in 1943.

It was part of their annual Memorial Day trek to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, a family tradition that began with Dennis Sakuma's mother, who was Joe Takata's sister. The Sakumas pay their respects to nine family members at Punchbowl.

"It's out of respect," Karen Sakuma said. "We really appreciate what they've done for us. We have the freedom because of them."

They were among hundreds of people yesterday at Punchbowl, where dignitaries, veterans and relatives gathered for the 59th Memorial Day service.

The Sakumas said they fondly remember their childhood trips to the cemetery with Dennis and his father. "We would go to all the graves," Karen Sakuma said. "He would take us breakfast and then all the graves and then go to lunch. It was an all-day affair."

Dennis Sakuma, 66, was born just a few months before his uncle died but thinks the tradition is important and one they'll keep up. Their daughter also usually comes with them but had to work yesterday.

For the Sakumas, the trip to pay respects to family members is one they both enjoy, even though now they stretch it over two days and go for brunch instead of breakfast and lunch. "It's a good feeling," Dennis said.

Takata was born in Waialua in 1919, graduated from McKinley High School and became a local baseball star playing for the Azuma and Asahi, two well-known Island teams of the time before enlisting in the Army in 1941. In 2003, U.S. Army Pacific celebrated the Army's 228th birthday by renaming a ball field at Fort Shafter as Joe Takata Field.

In dedicating the field to Takata, the Army said it will serve "as a lasting tribute to one of Hawai'i's finest young soldiers and athletes."

At Punchbowl yesterday, many were drawn to the ceremony while many others spent private time at the graves and memorials for family and friends.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann gave the keynote address. "We are here today to remember and to honor every one of our veterans who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and to express our gratitude and appreciation to those who continue to serve our great nation today," he said.

Hannemann urged people to recall veterans scarred by war, inside and out.

"We must also remember those who served our country proudly, but returned home tormented by hidden wounds and personal demons that followed them from the combat zones," he said. "Many never fully recovered, and died on mean streets surrounded by loneliness, addiction, poverty and squalor. They deserved so much better."

More than 35 veterans organizations participated in the presentations of wreaths to honor fallen comrades.

Among the dignitaries at the ceremonies was Tammy Duckworth, the McKinley High and University of Hawai'i graduate who lost her legs when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq. She now is an assistant secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Duckworth spoke later yesterday at a Memorial Day observance at the State Veterans Cemetery in Kane'ohe.

Also attending yesterday's Punchbowl service were U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono; Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command; and Hawai'i Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Robert Lee.

Members of the Honolulu Fire Department sang the national anthem, with additional music from the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Honolulu Boy Choir.