December 7, 1941 is remembered as “a
date which will live in infamy”: Pearl Harbor Day. Thousands of lives were
lost, a major portion of America’s Pacific fleet was in pieces and the U.S.
was catapulted into war in the Pacific.
Today, at the onshore USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, we can see displays of
World War II naval history and wartime Hawaii; and view a film about the Japanese sneak
attack on Pearl Harbor. A ferry shuttles back and forth between the visitor
center and the memorial where one can actually stand right above the Arizona.
In fact, the rusted remains of the Arizona are clearly visible under
the waters of Pearl Harbor. The memorial to the 1,100 men entombed forever
within the sunken, once mighty, battleship, straddles the USS
Arizona. One wall of the structure bears their names. Although
there were many suggestions throughout the years for a USS Arizona
memorial, planning for the structure did not begin until 1960.
And, without the help of Elvis Presley, the Memorial might still be just a
dream. Elvis staged a benefit concert at Pearl Harbor’s Bloch Arena on March
25, 1961, raising more than $60,000 to start the USS Arizona
Memorial’s building fund. Construction was completed in 1980.
We pause to reflect on one of America’s most tragic days.
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