LAHAINA, Hawaii – A service to honor those who served their country gave comfort Saturday to their loved ones.

“I like this,” said Mitsue Yamamoto, following the West Maui AJA Veterans Club Memorial Day Service.

Yamamoto is the widow of Masayuki Bo Yamamoto, who served with the highly decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. Her husband died three years ago, and his picture and name were added to a wall of photos hung at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Fleming Road in Lahaina.

Yamamoto said her husband never spoke to her about his military service or war experiences, but he did note that he probably would not be able to sleep at night if ever any of his three sons were called to war duty.

Luckily, Yamamoto said, none of her sons had to serve.

The hall was established by the West Maui Americans of Japanese Ancestry Veterans Club, which was founded by the 100th and 442nd Veterans of World War II.

Saturday’s invitation-only Me-morial Day service honored West Maui soldiers of all wars and their spouses.

Mayor Alan Arakawa, keynote speaker for the service, made note of those who serve today: “It’s not just the soldiers; it’s a lot of the families that are making sacrifices.”

With the war in Iraq, Arakawa said, many of the loved ones left behind by soldiers serving in the conflict have had to make major adjustments in their lives, taking full charge of their families.

“Their entire lifestyle was turned upside down, completely, over-night,” Arakawa said.

The mayor said he knows that serving in wartime has never been easy, and he’s heard firsthand about the experiences of his relatives.

“All of us have to respect and honor their sacrifice,” said Ara-kawa.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, a World War II-era veteran introduced as a “surprise guest” at Saturday’s service, commended soldiers who served.

“You are the men and women who possess bravery and courage,” Akaka said.

Akaka was a mechanic with the Army Corps of Engineers from 1945 to 1947.

Participants bowed in prayer and sang songs including the national anthem and “Hawaii Aloha” to honor all the troops and their spouses.

Kikue Koja, 83, and her husband, Jiro, 82, traveled from their home in Kahului to attend.

Kikue Koja’s brother, Katsumi Harada, died at the age of 23 in 1946 while serving as a military intelligence officer for the U.S. Army. He suffered from a heart attack in Japan while serving as an English interpreter.

“It brings back sad memories because I think about all the things he missed. I wish he could have tasted some of these things we have now. I wish he could have seen some of these things,” Koja said.

As the eldest child of four, Koja said, she helped her parents raise her younger brothers, including Katsumi.

“I wish I could have bought him a car,” she said as she looked at her brother’s photograph.

Koja said she and her brothers grew up in Lahaina and she has attended the club’s Memorial Day services for years. But she missed the last three because of a hip injury. Back on her feet again, she also planned to visit a friend in Lahaina after Saturday’s service to tell her about it.

“I’ve got so much to tell her,” Koja said.

She looked over framed photographs decorated with fresh flower lei and pointed to names she recognized from her childhood days.

“I grew up with some of these people, and we went to school together,” she said.

Saturday’s mistress of ceremonies, Adeline Hoshino, stepped in for her husband, Kikuo Hoshino, a Korean War veteran who has served in the past as emcee and cook for the event.

Kikuo had suffered a stroke and is being cared for at Hale Makua.

“I feel great,” Mrs. Hoshino said after the service. “It’s not just one denomination here. It’s all faiths and races, and this getting together helps me a lot and brings comfort.”

West Maui AJA Veterans Club President Thomas Kunishige read at least six dozen names of soldiers who died during wartime, and war veterans and their spouses who have died.

Kunishige noted the sacrifices of young men who perished in war.

“To think they should be up and moving today, but now they’re gone. These boys died when they were so young. . . . It’s sad for me.”

The West Maui AJA Veterans Club membership consists today of about 130 veterans and spouses who have ties to West Maui, although not all still reside in the community. The club meets the first Thursday of each month. Its highlight of the year is the Memorial Day service.

Another Memorial Day service, sponsored by the Maui Veterans Council, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao.