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Published: December 11th 2010
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Entrance
Entrance into the Memorial. Well it took about a week and a half for us to finally make the 1/4th mile journey to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, but we finally did it. I'd see it every day as I drove across the Ford Island bridge, but standing on it was a completely different perspective and feeling.
The tour starts with a 45-minute video of the "who, what, when, where, and why" of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was a phenomenal video (I believe it was narrated by Stockard Channing which made it even better because her voice is great). It laid out a vast amount of information that gave me better understanding of the event. Even after all of the history classes I took and being a history teacher, I didn't know some of the information they gave us!
It was an emotional day, to say the least. I did my best to keep the tears away, even considering how appropriate they were at the moment.
For those of you out there who haven't had the honor of visiting the resting place of the unforgotten men who died on the U.S.S. Arizona on 7 December 1941, start saving your money now so you can.
This place, though surrounded by a busy, working city, and life that flourishes day by day, stops everything for the 20 or so minutes you'll have to pay your respects. There is a peace that the Memorial brings to you. I never had the pleasure of meeting any individuals that served upon the ship, but as I stood over the railings and looked down upon the rusted ship, I felt this protective urge for them. I wanted to walk throughout the Memorial and ensure these men were protected, though they lay many feet below sea water and a broken ship, wherever they may have fallen when the aerial torpedo struck the forward magazine. These men never knew war, yet they died because of it.
The noise of vehicles and city life are drowned out by lapping water and the snap of the American flag that flies on the Arizona's mast above. A somber feeling runs throughout the Memorial, but pride and appreciation do as well.
We visited two days after December 7th, so many wreaths still stood on the rails from many different organizations that felt compelled to remember the men on the anniversary.
In the water behind and in
Moor
The concrete moor showing where another ship was located at during the attack. front of Memorial are large concrete slabs that mark where the other ships were at when they were attacked. They're not there because all but the U.S.S. Utah, Oklahoma, and Arizona were salvaged and returned to duty.
The Memorial is fairly simple, yet it is perfect. A long, wide room dominates the majority with open windows that allows for the visitor to look out and down upon the ship. There are certain parts of the ship that you can see above the water, but most of it lays beneath. Oil still runs out and creates a rainbow on the water, but the fish life swam in it seemingly undisturbed. At the far end of the Memorial is the shrine where all of the names of the men who were lost are etched in (what I believe to be) white marble. It's a very tall and wide list of names. To the lower left of the lost names are the names of the sailors who were not aboard the ship or survived the attack who chose to have his remains placed back with his buddies after his death. The urn of the sailor's ashes is placed with the ship (undisturbed) so
Main Room
The main room of the Memorial. he can rejoin his ship and his Navy brothers.
When I walked into the shrine room, there was a young man kneeling down and praying. Many other people were in there taking pictures and video of the names, but this gentleman took the time out to think of these sailors. I was very impressed and felt an urge to do the same, but instead I just stood behind him and spoke to Him from within.
And that was it. 20 minutes or so is really all that is needed to visit the Memorial. We loaded back onto the boat and went back to the visitor's center. There is so much to see while at the visitor's center. The U.S.S. Oklahoma Memorial is also located there and tickets for the submarine Bowfin and the U.S.S. Missouri (the ship where the Japanese signed the surrender that ended the war with Japan) can also be purchased there. Many plaques and other information bits are located throughout the property. To see this all would require between 1-2 entire days.
There are days that are few and far between where I question my choice to join the military, but it's moments like this
Lost names
The shrine where the names of those lost are etched. visit where I know I made the right decision to do so.
Love from O'ahu.
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