USS Arizona

Friday Feb 8th was our last day of organized activities with Pioneer. Originally we were going to do the helicopter tour but switched to the Pearl Harbor option. Our day began with a visit to PunchBowl National Cemetery. Buses are not allowed to stop while going through but our driver drove extremely slow so we could view everything out the windows. She was an awesome tour guide and was very informative/funny. At one point she talked about several movies that had been filmed in the area. One of the most recent being the 2nd installment of Hunger Games! I was just giddy with excitement!!! Was very excited to share that info with my niece Brooke because she loves The Hunger Games also. We drove past Aloha Stadium which is where the NFL pro bowel is played each year. It was held several weeks before our visit and all the players stayed at the same hotel we were in. It is also home to a farmers market/swap meet 3 x a week. We got to ride through China Town. That was a little crazy! Dead chickens hanging in front windows of stores and lots of produce everywhere. The bus stopped for a short break in the historic downtown area and we were able to stretch our legs. Here are a few things we learned from our bus driver.

1. The Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters in it.     All the vowels and h,k,l,m,n,p,w. 
2. Before Hawaii was a state they had Queens & Kings
3. Hawaii now only grows 10% of the amount of pineapple they used to grow.

Tons of useless information that I know you were all dying to learn!! After eating lunch at a military golf course we were headed to historic Pearl Harbor. We began with the audio headset tour which is done at one's own pace. It is narrated by the actress Jamie Lee Curtis who's father was part of World War 2.

Their were 2 museums to walk through Pre-attack & Post attack. Throughout both their were numbered areas that coordinated with punching # into the headset. It was a little confusing at first but we eventually got it figured out. The whole time we toured I just kept thinking how much my Dad would enjoy what I was witnessing.

At 2:00 we had tickets for the little theatre to view a short film about the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. It showed actual footage from the day's events. Very informative. Once the film ended we exited outside and then stepped onto a boat that took us across the water to the Arizona Memorial. The USS Arizona 

Arizona Memorial

View from inside the memorial

 We found a "Simpson" name

Oil from the ship

If you don't know anything about the USS Arizona then here are some important facts you should know.

During the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 the Arizona was bombed. It exploded and sank, killing 1,177 officers and crewmen. The memorial is placed directly above the sunken ship. Oil is still seeping out 70 years later and is expected to continue for 20 or so more years. Certain areas of the ship are visible above the water and other parts seen just below the water's surface. Some days more of the ship is visible above water. In the harbor around the memorial sit markers showing where other boats sat on the day of the attack. 

 A portion of the ship sticking out of water. Behind in the distance you can see the markers. 

At the back end of the memorial is a wall honoring all the men who are entombed below the exact spot you are standing. Only around 12 men that survived the attack on Arizona still live today. One story we were told in particular was about a man who participated in a band competition the night before the attack. He wanted to be back with his trombone that still sits in his locker. After he died his ashes were returned to the USS Arizona and spread in the ship. Hearing all the personal stories made everything seem so real & sad. The memorial was truly an honor to see. When I was telling my Mom about the visit once we had returned she mentioned that my Grandma & Grandpa Shinabargar (her parents) have been there 2 times. She remembers her Mom telling her how my Grandpa just cried when they visited the memorial. He is a veteran. Love & Miss him very much! 

 Memorial Wall

The men who survived Pearl Harbor attack but have since died and their ashes were returned to the ship.

We only had 15 minutes on the memorial. Many people visit there every single day. Rhett & I are both so happy we got the chance to be just 2 of the thousands that visit. If you have never had the chance go to Hawaii and see Pearl Harbor I hope this gives you a little perspective.