We saved the best for last: The USS Arizona Memorial. This was the ONE place in Honolulu, above all else,that we wanted to visit. My uncle Anthony, a fighter pilot, died during World War II, so to honor his memory, we wanted to visit the most important US Memorial to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. Previous visitors to the Arizona Memorial advised us to arrive as soon as the gates opened at 7:00am because the crowds could be overwhelming. Since it was at least a forty-five minute bus ride (the No. 2 bus) from our apartment, depending on traffic, we got up at 5:00 am, while it was still dark. Even then, the line to get in was long. Fortunately , once the gates opened, the line moved quickly and we made it. Officially known as the "WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument", this actually comprises four separate museums; the USS Missouri; the USS Bowfin; the Pacific Aviation museum; as well as the USS Arizona Memorial. While admission to the Arizona is free, the other museums do require a fee. The tradition of hoisting and lowering the American flag over the Arizona resting place began in 1950 by Admiral Arthur W. Radford, the then Commander of the Pacific fleet. Twelve years later, the permanent memorial, in the form of bridge floating across the width of the ship (but not touching it at all) was constructed. This 184 foot long structure can accommodate 200 people. Timed ticket access (and they only give out a 1000 per day) to the memorial is by naval boat, weather permitting( which was a concern to us because we'd heard that the three days prior to our visit, no boats took visitors to the Memorial as the waters were too choppy). Prior to boarding the boat, visitors sit through a short orientation video, which included actual footage from the 1941 attack. At the far end of the memorial is the shrine room listing the names of all those who died on board the Arizona during the 1941 attack. Being in this room was like being in a church; the only voices heard were from the volunteer narrator explaining what we were seeing, and Park Rangers giving visitors directions about how to proceed. It is hard to explain how you feel being there; solemnity and honor don't fully capture it. Survivors can request that, upon their death, their ashes be interred with their comrades in a very moving ceremony. The first one to make this request, did so in 1982. Three navy divers escort the urn with the ashes away from the dock and toward the ship, and sink slowly below the surface, while holding the urn high. Finally, they are interred in gun turret No. 4. One point of information that really impacted us was learning that, by custom and not by any formal rule imposed, sailors on board ships passing the Memorial, line the sides in silent tribute to those interred below. The one question we had was why the Arizona was singled out for this monument? Unlike many of the other ships that were sunk or damaged during the attack, the Arizona was irreparably torn apart when its powder magazine was blown up by a bomb. As a result, 1,177 of its officers and crew are still entombed in its wreck.
A short distance across the complex is the battleship, USS Missouri, aka "Big Mo." This Iowa-class battleship was the last one commissioned by the United States. It was aboard the Missouri that the Empire of Japan surrendered, ending World War II. So, the events that both started and ended the war are portrayed in this one complex. That was amazing to us.
One year to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Bowfin was launched and was nicknamed the "Pearl Harbor Avenger." Following nine patrols throughout the Pacific and having sunk 44 enemy ships, the Bowfin returned to Pearl Harbor and was designated a National Historic Landmark. I am not particularly claustrophobic, but I don't think I could have spent a whole patrol in such cramped quarters.
Ranked among the top ten aviation-related attractions in the United States, the Pacific Aviation Museum contains 43 aircraft, most relating to the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor. Even the hangers are part of the display, exhibiting the original bullet holes in some of the glass windows.Perhaps the most iconic attraction here is not an aircraft at all, but rather its 158-foot control tower, featured in such movies as "Tora, Tora, Tora" and "Pearl Harbor."
Plan on getting here early, as the crowds can be quite large, and spending pretty much the whole day, as there is so much to see. Granted, Lori and I were war babies, being born in 1944, so we felt we had a connection to the history involved here. But, even if you were born during a different period, you should plan a visit here. Reading about this place in a book is not the same experience as actually being here. It is living history. Some service men and women who were stationed here on December 7, 1941 and survived the attack, are still here, serving as volunteer historians.
From the Internet, an aerial view of the orientation of the Memorial Shrine to the Arizona itself.
...the last of its class to be commissioned by the Navy...
Partially lost to history, because it occurred on the same day the President, Franklin Roosevelt, died (April 12,1945), was this burial-at-sea ceremony compassionately honoring a Japanese Kamikaze pilot who had attacked the Missouri earlier. Historians believe they have identified this young Japanese pilot; 19 year old Petty Officer 2nd Class Setsuo Ishimo. There was still some anti-Japanese sentiment because of the Pearl Harbor attack, so some complained about this ceremony. However, "Big Mo's" commander compassionately told the crew that this pilot had been someone's son and was serving his country just like they were. So, he should be honored for his devotion.
"Captain" Lorraine fighting off the enemy ("Now where did that enemy plane go?").