USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor: Part 1

This is where World War II began for the United States. A surprise attack by the Japanese on the morning of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor (and surrounding sites on Oahu, Hawaii) changed the course of the war. The wreckage of the USS Arizona still sits in the shallow harbor as a memorial and final resting place for the over 1100 sailors and marines who were killed there. In addition, the memorial is part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument which honors the 2403 who were killed and 1178 who were wounded during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Visiting this site is a sobering experience. The Visitor Center does a good job of highlighting the events of the day, and a well produced movie that you watch before heading out to the memorial gives you additional context to put you in the right frame of mind. The USS Arizona Memorial is only accessible by a short ferry ride, and despite being a popular tourist attraction, you never forget that you're visiting what is essentially a grave site. 

Attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941.

The memorial structure was constructed in 1962 and spans the sunken hull of the Arizona. The design, with two peaks on either end and a sloped center, is said to reflect the United States before, during, and after the war. The significance of what happened here is still palpable. The Arizona wreckage continues to leak fuel into the harbor, known as the "tears of the Arizona". You can see the oil slick from the viewing platform as well as a few of the rusting pieces of the ship above the water. Even after all of these decades the site remains a powerful symbol.

A model of the wreckage and memorial platform.

Oil slick known as the "tears of the Arizona".