Pearl Harbor Photos

As Lawhawk posted, today is the 67th Anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. I had the privilege to visit Pearl Harbor on my honeymoon a few years back. I also have a personal connection to the U.S.S. Arizona, as my grandfather worked on that ship when it was in the Brooklyn Navy Yard before the war. Attached are some photos of the memorial.

This is a picture as your approaching the Memorial. The white flotillas to the left and right of the Memorial are markers to the other ships that were sunk and not lifted on that day.

Ships like the U.S.S. Vestal (above) and the U.S.S. Nevade (below).

Below is the entrance to the Memorial, followed by the dedication plaque.


The following picture shows flower pedals available to throw over board as a memorial. The flowers are seen floating on the oil slicks still rising from the sunken ship. The legend is that the oil will continue to flow until all survivors of the U.S.S. Arizona have passed on.

Moving inside the memorial, the names of all those who died on the U.S.S. Arizona are listed. The second picture shows the names of those people who survived and have since departed. Anyone who served on the Arizona that day can choose to have their ashes buried in the harbor. U.S. Navy divers will bury the ashes among the wreck.
Lastly, it should be noted that in addition to the Memorial, there are several other ships on display for tours. One of them, the U.S.S. Missouri (the Mighty Mo) is of particular historical significance. The Mighty Mo is the where the surrender agreement between the Allies and Japan was signed. We took the Master Chief's tour, given by a retired Master Chief, who actually served on the Mo. What a ship!

Overall, the Memorial is a statement of understatement, and that is what makes it so powerful. If you have a chance to visit it I highly recommend it. I must say that even Mrs. Legalbgl, who is not a history buff, found it fascinating.