Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Adopts Vietnam War Killed in Action

[The following article is from the August 2010 issue of Wheel of Dharma, the official publication of the Buddhist Churches of America]

Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple(VHBT) is participating in the Japanese American Vietnam War Killed in Action (KIA) adoption program. In this program,community organizations/temples/churches would “adopt” the names of eight to 12 KIA and honor and remember them. Organizations also participating to date include the Pacific Southwest JACL,Centenary United Methodist Church, and the Venice Santa Monica Free Methodist Church. Adopting organizations were invited to participate in the annual Japanese American Veterans’Memorial Service at the Japanese American National Memorial Court at the Japanese American Culture and Community Center by presenting a single flower with the adopted serviceman’s name attached. This service took place on May 29 with members of VHBT present.Danny Nakagiri of VHBT presented a floral tribute on behalf of the Japanese American Vietnam War Veterans. Danny and his wife, Nancy, rushed to the Memorial Service immediately after the birth of their first grandchild, Leah Matsubayashi, daughter of Cindy and Erik Matsubayashi and granddaughter of Rev. and Mrs. George Matsubayashi. The website for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is www.virtualwall.org. There is no cost to participate in the program. There is,however, an endowment fund campaign which is raising money to maintain the Japanese American National Memorial Court at JACCC in perpetuity. VHBT will also honor these young men during our Atom Bomb Memorial Service on Sunday, Aug. 8. Other temples interested in participating in this program should contact Ken Hayashi at kenh@rogerspoultry.com.