Preparations at Punchbowl for Inouye's memorial service

Preparations at Punchbowl for Inouye's memorial service
Published: Dec. 20, 2012 at 3:18 AM HST|Updated: Dec. 20, 2012 at 4:36 AM HST
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Gene Castagnetti
Gene Castagnetti

PUNCHBOWL (HawaiiNewsNow) - More than 1,000 people, including at 20 member of Congress, are expected to attend a public memorial service for Senator Daniel Inouye on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He will be buried at a later date during a private ceremony.

A 19-canon salute will take place upon the arrival of his remains. Other military honors will include a three-gun volley and an F-22 flyover.

"There will be some security sweeps, but nothing exceptional. We will have military on duty. We will encourage everybody that knows the senator to please feel free to attend," said director Gene Castagnetti.

The four speakers include Senator Harry Reid and Admiral Samuel Locklear of the United States Pacific Command. Only VIP guests will be allowed to park at Punchbowl. Visitors are being asked to use a shuttle service.

"We're going to try to encourage the public to use the public transportation that the mayor's office is going to set up down at the Alapai station and the Blaisdell station so city buses can transport people in," said Castagnetti.

Inouye's first wife, Margaret, is buried in the section with his comrades from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The late senator will have a separate marker reflecting his medal of honor recognition.

"We would anticipate, at a time of his family's choosing, that the same grave site would be utilized. We just don't know when they will select the time to do the interment."

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