The U.S.S.
Arizona Memorial floats gracefully over the sunken remains of the ship for which
it is named. It is a striking
visual. Every fifteen minutes, 150
visitors are ferried across the harbor to stand on the platform.
Over time the
memorial has suffered from the heavy traffic and the effects of time and the
elements.
When you stand
on the platform you are struck by the reverence with which the memorial was
constructed. It is, after all, the
gravesite of 1177 men. To this day, the
ship still weeps for her dead.
The Arizona
had 1.4 million gallons of fuel on board when she went down, and perhaps half a
million gallons remain. About a quart and a half a day bubbles up from below.
Pearl Harbor survivors call the seepage “black tears.” It’s eerie to see and,
in a strange way, a seemingly tangible connection to those who lie below.
When I visited
Pearl Harbor, I purchased a flag that had been flown from the memorial on
September 11th. I needn’t
tell you why I feel there’s a connection between the attack on Pearl Harbor and
the attack on America on September 11, 2001.
Today, about
120 survivors will join Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, military leaders and civilians
to observe a moment
of silence in Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time—the moment the attack
began seven decades ago.
Linked at Say Anything Blog. Thanks.
Linked at Say Anything Blog. Thanks.
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