Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the 69th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. To honor the day, I’m sharing photos of the somber wall of names listing those who died on the USS Arizona that fateful day on December 7, 1941.
This wall of names is located on the far end of the USS Arizona Memorial in an open room of its own. To walk towards that massive wall and see the volume of names carved in marble is shocking. I think it’s human nature to feel detached from history, but when you see these names, history is humanized. I’ve visited this memorial several times. On each occasion I’ve noticed other visitors take their whispers to silence as they stare at the memorial while absorbing its meaning.
When you visit Oahu, I highly recommend you take the time to go see the USS Arizona Memorial where every day is a day to remember Pearl Harbor.
Sheila Beal
6 comments
I wish they could make a plaque on the Arizona Memorial for those 800+ servicemen who died as a result of the sinking of the USS Leopoldville on Christmas Eve. The military kept its sinking a secret for decades.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Leopoldville_(1929)
“Forgotten by many, remembered by few.”
Why would you put a plaque on the Arizona memorial for something that happened in Europe? Duh.
That’s a horrible thing, Christian! WTH??? Sigh.
Sheila, I’m so bad — I still need to get to the Arizona. Only a few miles away from there, all my life, and I’ve never been there. Tsk!
Evelyn – we’re all guilty of not doing things in our own backyard.
I bet you would really enjoy going to the USS Arizona Memorial. But, bring some Kleenex, it’s a very moving experience.
That’s what worries me, Sheila. I don’t know if you remember my reaction when visiting Punchbowl but I may need a case of Kleenex. You might wanna buy a few shares of their stock! 🙂 I actually prefer Viva paper towels, but then, that’s Kleenex too.
I still think about that Victorian hotel in your backyard! 🙂
My great uncle is entombed inside, my grandma always spoke of him and showed us pictures. He was killed before my father was born, but we still talk about him like we all new him. I hope that someday my family and I can go visit the memorial so that I can see it for myself and to show my children that they have a big piece of history in them. I pray that the world will never forget that sad day.