The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a military cemetery and memorial site for the sailors who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona, one of the deadliest sites in the attack, remains underwater with over 1,100 sailors buried there. Visitors can explore the memorial, which has a large marble wall inscribed with the names of Pearl Harbor’s dead and windows with views of the wreck and harbor. The site is also home to living WWII veterans who volunteer there. The National Parks Service has a conservation program to preserve the deteriorating vessel.
The USS Arizona Memorial is a site in Pearl Harbor dedicated to the sailors who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In addition to being a memorial site, the USS Arizona Memorial is also a designated military cemetery, with an estimated 1,100 sailors are buried underwater at the site, along with the remains of the USS Arizona. Visitors are welcome to the memorial, which is open every day of the year except New Years, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the USS Arizona was badly damaged, thanks to a series of bombs that triggered explosions in the ship’s magazines, the places where ammunition is stored. The combination of the fierce fires and sinking of the ship killed over 1,400 sailors, making the USS Arizona one of the deadliest sites in the Pearl Harbor attack.
Initially, much of the ship protruded out of the water, and after removing part of the ship’s superstructure, the Navy wasn’t sure what to do next. While salvage operations could have been used to pull the USS Arizona up and out of the water, concerns were raised due to sailors who died inside, and ultimately the Navy decided to keep the ship as-is and to build a memorial around it. The USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated in 1962 and is today one of the most popular places to visit on the island of Oahu.
The memorial itself is a large, sweeping structure that passes through the wreck of the USS Arizona without touching it. Visitors are taken to the memorial by boat and allowed to explore at their leisure; the site has a series of windows with spectacular views of the wreck and harbor, along with a large marble wall inscribed with the names of Pearl Harbor’s dead. By tradition, all American ships that pass the USS Arizona Memorial salute the wreck of the Arizona, and many foreign ships have adopted the practice as well.
Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial can be an intense and powerful experience. It can also provide a unique look into living history, thanks to the living WWII veterans who volunteer at the site. The USS Arizona itself began to deteriorate quite badly in the early 21st century, prompting pollution concerns, and the National Parks Service has an extensive conservation program that aims to preserve the vessel as best as possible. Even with these conservation efforts, the vessel is leaking oil, creating patches that are sometimes referred to as “Arizona tears.”
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
