GILROY — Students from Gilroy High School, accompanied by their teacher Darren Yafai, joined up with the Stories of Service (SOS) in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day weekend.

The students placed a floral arrangement at the Wall of Heroes and heard a talk by Dr. Ray Murakami, an alumnus of Gilroy High School and past president of the Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism Foundation.

Also joining the students were SOS participant Al Tortolano of Santa Clara, a World War II veteran of the 141st Infantry “Lost Battalion” that was rescued by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team; and 91-year-old Edith Shaine, the nurse in the famous photo of a couple kissing in Times Square on Aug. 14, 1945 after hearing that Japan had surrendered.

Yafai’s students have produced over 20 stories under his direction. Their most recent story was of 442nd veteran Lawson Sakai of E Company.

The students joined other SOS youth producers in the annual Memorial Day Parade down Constitution Avenue. This was the third year in a row that SOS participated in the parade.

They also attended in a program at the World War II Memorial, where actor Ernest Borgnine, SOS national spokesperson, urged the students to visit veterans in the VA hospitals.

Many of the digital stories of veterans from World War II to the Iraq War may be viewed at www.stories-of-service.org. The program is part of the Digital Clubhouse Network founded by Warren Hegg.

The first annual Rudy K. Tokiwa Memorial Award, named for a 442nd veteran who was active in the Bay Area community, was presented the night before to the Sea Riders, who came all the way from Honolulu. These students from Waianae High School produced the story of veteran Eddie Ichiyama under the direction of John Allen and Candy Suiso.

The students also participated in ceremonies with the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) at Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium, where they met Maj. Gen. Tom Bostick, head of USA Recruitments, and Christine Sato-Yamazaki of the Go for Broke Educational Foundation in Los Angeles, who presented a wreath to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier joined by Grant Ichikawa of JAVA and Emily Ihara, co-president of the Washington D.C. JACL.

Judy Niizawa, also an alumna of Gilroy High, arranged for the floral presentation at the Wall of Heroes. She has been an adult resource to the students, helping produce the first SOS story, “Nisei’s Fight for Freedom,” which was narrated by Tokiwa.

She has also contributed to the production of stories of Tortolano, James Shizuru, and her sister, Betty Niizawa Nishi.