USS Arizona Memorial - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
The USS Arizona Memorial is commemorating its 50th anniversary on Memorial Day 2012.
The 184-foot-long USS Arizona Memorial, was completed on May 25, 1962 following years of efforts to raise the half million dollars needed for construction. It sits astride the mid-section of the battleship which sank on December 7, 1941, taking with her 1,177 of her crewmen, most of whom still lie within the sunken ship. Dedication took place on Memorial Day, May 30, 1962.
Since its dedication well over 50-million people from all over the world have visited the Memorial by taking a Navy-operated shuttle boat from the Visitor Center.
This weekend there will be special events honoring the anniversary and those who gave their lives on the day that World War II began for the United States.
On both Sunday and Monday evenings there will be a special Sunset Boat Tour to the USS Arizona Memorial, a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Memorial after normal hours. These tours will include a fully-narrated tour around Ford Island led by National Park Service Rangers. The cost of these special tours is a contribution of $50 or more to help raise funds for the much needed restoration work on the Memorial, estimated to be upwards of $1 million.
Much of the repairs needed are general maintenance to bring Memorial up to current OSHA requirements in all areas, strip and repaint the entire Memorial, fix deteriorating concrete and replace rusting light fixtures. A main part of the restoration will involve the replacement of the existing, deteriorating shrine wall which lists the names of all those who died on December 7, 1941 as as well as those who have since passed away but who have chosen to be buried with their comrades.
You can read more about the restoration project and history of the Memorial on special website of the Pacific Historic Parks Capital Campaign in support of the National Park Service. There is a clearly defined link on the site so that you can make a donation towards the restoration.
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