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Sen. Daniel Inouye Honored At Memorial Service In Hawaii

Danny Lee |
December 23, 2012 | 4:21 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Sen. Daniel Inouye died from respiratory complications at age 88 on Dec. 17. (U.S.-Japan Council/Creative Commons)
Sen. Daniel Inouye died from respiratory complications at age 88 on Dec. 17. (U.S.-Japan Council/Creative Commons)
A memorial service for the late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii was held on Sunday to remember the war veteran and longtime senator of the Aloha state, the Associated Press reported.

About 1,000 people, including President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, attended the service at Honolulu's National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The 88-year-old Inouye died Dec. 17 from respiratory complications.

SEE ALSO: Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye Dies

The Hawaii lawmaker was the first Japanese-American to win election to both houses of Congress and the second-longest serving senator in U.S. history, at 50 years.

More from the AP:

Buses that brought people to the service flashed the words "MAHALO Senator Daniel K. Inouye" — using the Hawaiian word for "thank you."

A 19-gun cannon salute was fired as Inouye's coffin arrived at the cemetery. The service also featured a flyover by F-22 military jets and the playing of "Taps" by Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana.

Inouye's widow, Irene, who was seated with the president and first lady Michelle Obama in the front row, dabbed her eyes as a band of bagpipes and drums band played "Danny Boy."

Inouye was a high school senior in Honolulu on Dec. 7, 1941 when he witnessed Japanese planes fly toward Pearl Harbor and other military bases to begin a bombing raid. He volunteered for a U.S. Army unit of Japanese-Americans and lost his right arm in a fight with Germans in Italy.

"He was a shining star of the greatest generation," fellow Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka said at the service.

 

Read the full story at the Associated Press.

Reach Executive Producer Danny Lee here; follow him here.



 

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