Congresswoman-elect Tulsi Gabbard will carry a photo of Nainoa Hoe, a Hawaii soldier who was killed in Iraq in 2005, at today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam Memorial Education Center.

Hoe’s father, Vietnam veteran Allen Hoe, requested that Gabbard carry the photo. Representatives of all fifty states will present photos of heroes from current conflicts to be carried and presented by family, friends and comrades.

“This Education Center will be a place to celebrate the values of honor, courage, integrity, duty and service.  Photographs of heroes like Nainoa, who embodied these values in their lives and in their ultimate sacrifice, will be featured,” Gabbard said in an email to supporters Tuesday night.

“Nainoa is an inspiration to me personally.  His warmth and enthusiasm for life touched and inspired so many. His death was a profound tragedy and a reminder of the great cost of war to our communities and to our families.”

UPDATE: Here’s a photo provided by Gabbard’s campaign of her with Allen Hoe and Jan Scruggs, founder of the memorial.

— Michael Levine