We took a tour to see the memorial and resting place of the SS Arizona of Pearl Harbour. It is a visitor centre that has a museum, submarine, warship and memorial from the attack on Pearl Harbour from the Japanese on December 7, 1941. It is still a working navy base today.
It was the beginning of World War 2, and it was an ambush of epic proportions. Over a thousand people perished that day, many buried at sea with the the ship itself. Many other ships were hit that day and sunk but some were salvaged and repaired. What struck me is the desire for survivors of the attack on The SS Arizona, of which 9 remain, many are choosing to be cremated and join their crew in the sunken vessel.
We took a water shuttle to the memorial, a stark white open air building over top of the vessel with parts of it still above water. 86 years after its demise it still leaks tears into the ocean...oil slick tears that is. We were contemplative as the time there leant itself to a remembering and thanksgiving for the men and women whose lives were lost.
On the return to town our driver took us through the punch bowl cemetery, a crater where US Veterans are and can be buried. A shout out to all the veterans on the bus occurred thanking them for their service. My father served some time in the Canadian Army, and my Grandparents are both veterans of World War 2. What I came to understand in our time at Pearl Harbour is that the War that started here had lifelong implications for the generations that followed. I am thankful today for the freedom I have. My grandparents generation sacrificed so much and I will not forget this.