Considering the attack on Pearl Harbor, can you imagine the world turning upside down? The Pearl Harbor National Memorial stands here. It allows visitors to reconnect with history. It is a place to remember the fallen.
This memorial commemorates the events of December 7 1941. On that day, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service launched a surprise military strike. This attack drew the United States into World War II. It changed the course of global history.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is on Oahu Island in Hawaii. It includes nine historic sites. These represent various aspects of the war in the Pacific. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial honors the history of World War II in the Pacific. It commemorates the events of December 7 1941.
The site stands as a place of reflection and education. It is also a place of remembrance. The memorial highlights Pearl Harbor’s pivotal role. It compelled the U.S. to enter World War II. It safeguards the USS Arizona, USS Utah, and USS Oklahoma memorials. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial shares stories of heroism. It also shares stories of resilience.
The park includes the USS Arizona Memorial. It includes the USS Utah memorial. It includes the USS Oklahoma memorial. You can also find six chief petty officer bungalows on Ford Island here. Mooring quays F6, F7, and F8 are here. They formed part of Battleship Row. The visitor center at Halawa Landing completes the site.
The visitor center features galleries. They focus on the Pacific theater of World War II. A theater shows a film about the attack. You can also find a memorial sculpture here. Visitors can take a ferry to the USS Arizona Memorial.
The USS Arizona Memorial marks the resting place of many. 1102 sailors and Marines were killed on the USS Arizona. The attack on Pearl Harbor led to the United States’ involvement in World War II. The memorial was built in 1962. More than two million people visit it annually. It straddles the sunken hull of the battleship. It does not touch it.
The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center opened in 1980. The National Park Service operates it. The battleship’s sunken remains were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
During World War II, the Arizona’s wrecked superstructure was removed. Efforts began to erect a memorial. Robert Ripley visited Pearl Harbor in 1942. He wanted a permanent memorial.
The Pacific War Memorial Commission was created in 1949. Admiral Arthur W. Radford attached a flag pole to the Arizona’s main mast in 1950. He began a tradition of hoisting and lowering the flag. A temporary memorial was built above the deckhouse.
The Navy placed a permanent memorial in 1955. President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the creation of a National Memorial in 1958. The legislation required private financing.
Elvis Presley performed a benefit concert in 1961. This raised money for the memorial. The memorial would honor those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Honolulu architect Alfred Preis designed the memorial. The Navy specified a bridge floating above the ship. The 184-foot-long structure has two peaks. Critics initially called it a “squashed milk carton.”
The memorial has three main parts. These are the entry, assembly room, and shrine. The central assembly room features seven large open windows. There are rumors about the windows’ symbolism. Guides confirm this was not the architect’s intention. The memorial has an opening overlooking the sunken decks. Visitors can pay their respects here.
One of Arizona’s anchors is displayed at the visitor center’s entrance. One of the ship’s bells is also in the visitor center. The shrine has a marble wall. It bears the names of all those killed on the Arizona. Surviving crew members can have their ashes interred within the wreck.
The USS Arizona Memorial was formally dedicated on May 30 1962. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The joint administration by the Navy and the National Park Service began in 1980.
Oil still leaks from the sunken battleship. This oil is sometimes called “the tears of the Arizona.” The National Park Service monitors the vessel’s condition.
Every U.S. President has visited the memorial. They present a wreath. They scatter flowers. In 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the memorial. He paid respects to fallen service members.
Every Navy and Coast Guard vessel entering Pearl Harbor participates in “manning the rails.” Personnel salute the USS Arizona Memorial. The United States flag flies from the flagpole. It is attached to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial stands as a testament. It honors those who lost their lives. It reminds us of the sacrifices made. It promotes peace and reconciliation. Remember their sacrifice.