Remember, Understand, Honor

Those words are on a plaque standing next to the

anchor that was recovered from the USS Arizona

after she sank on Battleship Row on December 7, 1941

in Pearl Harbor.

We started out our day visiting and paying our respects to those

who gave their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy.

In the picture above you can see the white monument to the right

that spans over the top of the sunken Arizona.  In the middle is the

USS Missouri or the "Mighty Mo" and to the far left you can see a 

new battleship that is coming into port.

The USS New Orleans

As we stood and watched the giant ship come into port you could not help

but imagine the fiery scene that took place seventy years ago... 

As we sat there and watched these proud young men bring their 

boat into the dock a crowd started to gather and watch.

There was something very somber about a current ship of war,

docking right next to where so many lives were lost

in an act of war...it just gave you chills.

Small conversations started while we were standing there watching...

Rick has worked on some of the parts of the ship that was docking

and Scott currently works on improving military tools...

while they were discussing all of their "work" the man you see in

this picture, wearing the plaid shirt, turned around and started talking with them.

He has served two tours in Desert Storm and his son

was currently serving on the New Orleans.

He had not seen his son for the last 10 months and had come to Hawaii

to welcome him home.  The parents were being invited on the ship later that 

evening, but he did not know what time they were going to dock.

It was just a coincidence that he was there at the right time.

He was so excited to see them come into port and could not wait to 

see his son!

Soon after we took a quick boat trip over to the Arizona Memorial

The monument spans perpendicular over the sunken wreckage

and you can still see parts of the ship just under the water. 

You can also still see oil seeping from the injured ship.

There were Veteran's on the Memorial passing out flowers to

the visitors.  We were told that we could keep the flowers or

throw them into the water in memory of those

who died on that tragic day.

Jackson chose to throw his in the water and then just sat

and watched as it floated softly in the calm waters.

On the back wall of the monument is a list of all of those who lost their

lives on the Arizona that day and the rank they held..

That day, the Arizona lost about 80% of it's crew.

The Arizona is also the final resting place for those who survived that 

day in history... these veterans have returned to their ship as their final

resting place with their fellow shipmates.

The Flag was waving ever so elegantly in the breeze overhead

as we toured the memorial.

A thankful family for the freedoms we have and the men that have

fought for our freedom and continue to fight today.

After our tour, we returned to the gift shop and purchased a book

on the events of Pearl Harbor and had the honor of meeting these two men

who were serving in Pearl Harbor on that day, so many years ago.

The man on the left is Sterling Cale.  He served in the United States Army

and had just signed out of the night shift at the shipyard dispensary.

He saw the planes coming in and thought it was just a drill and then saw

the "Rising Sun" on one of the wings and quickly realized that this was not a drill

and Pearl Harbor was under attack.  One of his jobs following the attack was to remove

the bodies of his fallen soldiers from the Arizona.

The man on the right is Alfred Rodrigues. He served in the United States Navy.

He was on duty the morning of December 7th and had just sat down to eat his breakfast

when the alarm sounded.  He was issued a gun and began shooting at the planes as they passed 

overhead.  He said they were flying so low that you could see the faces of the 

Japanese pilots as they flew by.

This is the author of the book that we purchased.

His name is Allan Seiden.

He signed the book for the boys 

"form a place touched by history"

"December 7, 1941, 

A date which will live in infamy...

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated

invasion, the American people, in their righteous might,

will win through to absolute victory"

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

I was glad we were able to visit and that Austin is old enough

to understand the impact that this place

has on the history of our Nation.

We needed to lighten the mood so we 

spent the rest of the afternoon at the 

Aloha Stadium at the weekly

Swap Meet...

Sorry, no photos were taken...

we were too busy shopping!!!

Come back tomorrow...

we're heading to the beach!