Visited the Arizona Memorial

[Sunnyinhollister]

About 12 years ago I visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. It was as it should be, a somber remembrance of a tragic event that eventually cost the lives of millions in the Pacific theater. There were docents on hand that had served on the island during that day to answer questions and give a firsthand account of the events of that day. After viewing a short movie about the events that led up to the attack, you were taken by boat over to the memorial. Once there, it was a somber time of reflectance which is what you would expect for a memorial and a tomb, a very touching experience.

Fast forward to today. We were going to vacation in Princeville, Kauai and I wanted to spend a few days on Oahu so my wife could shop and my two youngest sons can experience the memorial. I thought it was very important for them to experience something like this first hand. I’ve got to say I was shocked and appalled by the behavior of most of the other visitors.

IT started on the boat ride over to the memorial where the lady in charge of the boat had to stop because people would not follow basic instructions. This repeated itself on the return trip. Once on the memorial itself, one would have thought they were at block party with the loud talking, running around, giggling, laughing while taking a photo op in front of the names of the fallen, ect. On the way back, when the navy personnel asked one of the tour guides to reiterate the rules of the boat again to her guests since they were not listening, she ripped into the guy from the navy.

Am I over reacting here? I know my wife was appalled. As we left the boat, we thanked the navy personnel for their service and for what they had to put up with.
Maybe I’m just getting too old and set in my ways

 

[Loobed]

Originally Posted By: Sunnyinhollister

Am I over reacting here? I know my wife was appalled. As we left the boat, we thanked the navy personnel for their service and for what they had to put up with.
Maybe I’m just getting too old and set in my ways


Ironically the bad behavior is the Freedom(R) that those men supposedly died for.

I don't agree with the bad behavior, but the U.S. won the war and had complete control of its future, and this is what it produced. Nobody cares about what the U.S. did in WWII except those who seek to gain money from it. The only thing people care about these days is what they can get (free) from the U.S.


P.S. I was there in 1976. Nice memorial. I remember Asians laughing. I don't know if they were Japanese. I am surprised the environmental wackos haven't complained about the oil leaking from the ship and insisting that it be removed.

 

[Al]

Its very sad and it speaks volumes about our appreciation of our heritage and to those who sacrificed their lives to make it possible for them to act as 'Holes at inappropriate times.

 

[dparm]

People need to show some respect.

I recently visited the 9/11 Memorial and the mood was much more somber. It was very hard for me to even look at all those names, let alone find people I might have known. Grown men were crying there.

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

Thanks for the feedback. I know there are times I can be "Tempermentally Challenged" so to speak. I AM thankful the kids were able to experience the memorial. Later on they dragged me through the USS Missouri.

 

[Loobed]

A little off topic.

How many people care about the lives that were lost in the American Revolution when they celebrate the 4th of July. I think everyone has a party: Nobody is sad about the fallen or forgotten soldiers. Maybe it's the same thing.

 

[Stelth]

I visited the Arizona memorial about 12
years ago. I'm thankful to say that we didn't experience the behavior you describe. People seemed cognizant of the fact that we were standing above a massive tomb. It was truly sobering.

 

[bepperb]

I don't understand why people think it's a good idea to parade a bunch of 8th graders through something like that anyway. I had a similar experience in DC at the Vietnam memorial. Who thinks it's an appropriate place for a field trip?

I don't expect a 12 year old to understand the gravity of those situations. Somewhere there's an adult who either overestimated the maturity of children or just didn't care.

 

[07Wolfie]

I did some volunteer duty at the Arizona a couple of years ago when I was active duty Navy stationed at Pearl. There's such a diversity of people visiting that it makes for huge clashes of mood and really uncomfortable moments. I distinctly remember one day when a Pearl Harbor survivor in a wheelchair had been brought back to Hawaii from the Midwest by his family for what was obviously one last visit. There was also a large group of young Japanese tourists visiting who were taking lots of pictures and enjoying themselves. I'll never forget the look on the old timer's face as he watched those Japanese kids. To be fair, those kids had no more to do with the attack on Pearl than the man in the moon, but it still made for a very uncomfortable moment.

On the other hand, I visited the Nagasaki Peace Park during a port visit in Japan. We were strictly forbidden from wearing our uniform, and the atmosphere was very somber. Although no one said anything specifically to us, it was very clear that we were less than welcome as Americans.

 

[Astro14]

Sunny - you're right on.

The Arizona is the final resting place of those sailors...and it is (or should be) a somber experience. Like laughing and telling jokes at a funeral, carrying on during the excursion is just wrong.

I've seen her twice. Most recently, when on a PACFLEET tour boat (personal tour, no waiting, some very knowledgeable Bosun's Mates...outstanding tour of the harbor). I've stood on the deck of the USS Missouri and looked out over the USS Arizona...interestingly, off in the distance, berthed in Pearl Harbor, was a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force DDG...A beginning, an ending, and a new ally, all in the same, contrasting frame...

In June, I take my 16 year old son to Hawaii for the first time.

Arizona is on the agenda.

He's old enough to understand....

 

[65cuda]

One regret I always had was that I never went out to the Arizona when I went through Pearl a couple of times when I was in the Navy. For some reason it just didn't click that I ought to go there. Boy was I dumb [censored].