Today let us remember those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. A reminder that we must remain vigilant.
Thinking about you today dad, as a young Naval Officier who witnessed the horrors of WWII and provided support for those who died on this tragic day in 1941.
Today, you continue to honor your comrades by providing Military Honors Funerals for our veterans. You painstakinly clean and prepare the weapons for firing, make the necessary calls to recruit your comrades, and make sure that Old Glory is waiving at the funeral home and grave sites. We salute you and all those who serve to protect on this solomn day.
USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
As Americans, we are blessed. We have had few attacks on our homeland from enemy forces since the Revolutionary War. The most recent and the one that most quickly comes to mind is the attack on New York City and Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001. Sixty years earlier, however, another equally devastating attack occurred—on December 7, 1941—the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i.
War and combat of any kind are bound to change nations and societies. But the Pearl Harbor attack remains notable in the annals of history because it changed the entire world as a result of America’s involvement in World War II (WWII). Not only did thousands of people lose their lives in the attack on Hawai’i, millions more across the Pacific and the globe died, were wounded, or were displaced in the aftermath of WWII.
There are innumerable American families who can recount the impact of WWII and Pearl Harbor on their family history.
“I can’t remember just what I saw first—the bomb as it hit the Arizona, the hangar on Ford Island that was lifted up so high that I could see daylight under it, or the USS Utah that was about 30Þ as it was rolling over… I was in the line of fire.” – Ansil “Sandy” Saunders, Pearl Harbor survivor, USS Raleigh, Arizona Memorial Museum Association founder
“We didn’t know what it was all about. It was just a normal Sunday. Then boom! This crash…and whenI looked, my arm was hanging…” – Ellen Higuchi, civilian Pearl Harbor survivor
The future of mankind depends on learning the lessons of history. With every tragic event, we learn and grow. But learning can only happen if the lessons of history are not forgotten.
So we must memorialize. We must record those lessons. We must share them with others.We must remember.
Our forefathers made admirable attempts to help us remember. In 1952, a plaque mounted on a ten-foot-high basalt stone was dedicated to the memory of the 1,177 American servicemen killed on the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941. It was the first permanent memorial at Pearl Harbor.
From that humble beginning, the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i, was born. Today, it is one of the most recognized and most visited memorials in America. Since its dedication in 1962, approximately 40 million visitors from all nations have come to the Memorial in a spirit of remembrance, reflection and reconciliation.
Straddling the sunken battleship USS Arizona in the waters of Pearl Harbor, the Memorial stands as a perpetual reminder of the tragedy. It holds different meanings for the millions who visit: as a tribute to those who died on the ship, in the overall Pearl Harbor attack, and in World War II in the Pacific; as a reminder of America’s need for eternal vigilance; as a symbol of hope for peace among nations; and as a testament to the tragedy of war and the value of human life.
The events of September 11, 2001, have magnified Pearl Harbor’s relevance for many, especially those too young to have experienced any enemy combat or attack firsthand. Today, almost 4,500 people visit the USS Arizona Memorial and its shoreside Museum and Visitor Center daily, now armed with a broader perspective of world dynamics and events, and charged with a passion for learning.
Remembering those who served and those who continue to protect us.
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A big shout out to my friend, Lisa, another brave soldier, serving in Iraq. God-speed, Lisa!
Patti and Dave - remember hanging all that fabric over the copper piping? Lynn and Diane - remember me freaking out that there weren't enough appetizers? You went into action and just took over the kitchen to make more! We couldn't have done it without all of you! I remember John-Boy coming in from Arizona - dressed in his sweatpants and flip-flops. He asked if we really meant that everyone should wear their "Jamaican Best" and when he saw everyone in shorts and sundresses, he dropped his drawers right in front of Terry's mom ! Thank goodness he had shorts on! 
