Arthur Y. Park, a Honolulu attorney and Air Force veteran, has gone to a number of military funeral services in Hawai'i for friends and relatives over the past 10 years.

He was so struck by the difference in Army and Air Force services that he wrote to Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces, and U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i.

"Most of these funeral services were for Army veterans and some for Air Force veterans," Park wrote in his April 7, 2006 letter to Hester. "The difference in the funeral service between the Army veterans and the Air Force is striking in that the Army services for veterans involve a sharp, spit and polish military honor guard and other personnel while in the Air Force, services for veterans have little or no discernible military personnel involved. I find this difference difficult to understand."

Hester wrote back in June of 2006 that he appreciated Park's interest in the solemn ceremonies.

Hester said that federal law stipulates the eligibility and entitlements for military funeral honors based on an individual's service commitment and status.

Former military members are entitled to military funeral honors with three armed forces members who fold and present the interment flag and play taps, he said.

Retired military members are authorized an additional seven-person team that performs the traditional "firing of three volleys" and serve as pallbearers, Hester said.

In that past year, Hickam Air Force Base supported all of the requests for Air Force funeral honors in Hawai'i, which included 82 requests for former military members and 78 requests for retired military members, Hester said.

"Hickam Air Force Base will continue to do its part to ensure that members of the armed services are laid to rest with the honor and dignity they so highly deserve," he wrote.

Park, still looking for a reason for the difference in ceremonies, also wrote to Akaka in December of 2006.

In a Jan. 18, 2007 response to Akaka, Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Cook, deputy chief of the Congressional inquiry division, office of legislative liaison, said the Army and Air Force have virtually the same policy on rendering funeral honors for veterans.

Each of the services requires veteran funerals to be supported with a minimum of two members of the armed forces, one of whom will be from the veteran's parent service.

The honor detail will fold and present the American flag and play taps.

"Please note this policy provides the minimum requirement," Cook said. "However, units can increase the level of support when possible."

The vigil continues for Park.

IN BRIEF

SUB TAKES ADMIRAL ON FINAL JOURNEY

The Pearl Harbor-based attack submarine USS Pasadena left port on Oct. 31 for a six-month deployment and an extra mission. A portion of the cremated remains of retired Rear Adm. Eugene Bennet Fluckey were brought aboard Pasadena moments before departure, the base newspaper reported.

The remains were to make the journey to the Western Pacific for a ceremonial burial at sea. While a portion of the ashes traveled with the submarine, as per Fluckey's wishes, the rest were entombed at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Fluckey died June 28 in Maryland at age 93. The renowned submarine commander was also known as "Lucky Fluckey" and "The Galloping Ghost of the China Coast."

He is credited as the skipper who sunk the most enemy tonnage during World War II. The tally is between 17 and 29 ships. Fluckey received the Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses.

The Pasadena wasn't the only Pearl Harbor vessel to have burial-at-sea duty.

Sailors of the guided missile cruiser USS Chosin held burials at sea and laid to rest 28 armed forces veterans and family members on Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 3.

ARMY GETTING TOUGH ON DRESS CODE

The Army in Hawai'i is clamping down on visible thong underwear, baseball caps that are askew, saggy trousers, "do rags," shorts that are too short — even torn, cut and worn clothing.

Lt. Col. Mark C. Boussy, commander of the U.S. Army Garrison on O'ahu, used the "commander's corner" column in the Hawai'i Army Weekly base newspaper to remind soldiers of the off-duty dress code and the policy posters that are displayed in places like the PX and commissary.

"The posters have been up for quite some time, but for some reason, many individuals do not think it applies to them," Boussy said.

While on Army installations, wearing civilian clothing "that presents a conservative, clean, inoffensive and neat appearance is the standard ... ," Boussy said.

PEARL HARBOR CEREMONIES EXPANDED

The 66th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor will again take place on Naval Station Pearl Harbor at Kilo Pier. This year, there will be three ceremonies, organizers say.

The traditional commemoration will be at 7:40 a.m. A second ceremony will be at noon on Ford Island at the new USS Oklahoma Memorial.

Additionally, the White House Commission on Remembrance will kick off its countdown to the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day by launching a special "Old Glory's Journey of Remembrance."

An American flag will be flown in 25 different locations around the U.S. between Dec. 7, 2007 and May 26, 2008.

All locations represent major conflicts, as identified by memorials and national cemeteries or battlefields, in which American lives have been lost.

The first flag-raising location will be at the USS Arizona Memorial on Dec. 7. The flag will then be lowered and move on to 25 other locations, ending its journey on Memorial Day flying over the U.S. Capitol.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.