|
Seventy-five years ago, the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor took
place.
The Imperial Japanese Army conducted the surprise
attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941 early in the morning on the
island of O'ahu – it was over before noon.
This devastating
attack took the lives of more than 2,400 service members, including
73 U.S. Marines.
A ceremony was held to rededicate the Marine
Memorial at the USS ARIZONA Education Center in Honolulu, Hawaii,
Aug. 19, 2016. The memorial expresses the nation's appreciation for
these American heroes.
|
A U.S. flag at half-mast billows in the wind during the Marine
Memorial Rededication Ceremony at the USS ARIZONA Education Center,
Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 19, 2016. Three plaques on the memorial are
dedicated to the 73 U.S. Marines that made the ultimate sacrifice
during the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert Sweet)
|
Families, friends and military service members came to Pearl
Harbor to view the bronze plaques commemorating the 73 valiant U.S.
Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice and their 15 brothers who
survived the attack on the battleship USS ARIZONA.
“As
Marines, we consider it our sacred duty to honor those who fought
and sacrificed so much here, to always remember their deeds, and to
never let their sacrifices be in vain,” said Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan,
commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.
For some
members of the audience, this was their first experience witnessing
the Marine Corps' dignified ceremonial proceedings.
|
Minister Kahu Kelekona Bishaw performs a traditional Hawaiian
blessing during the Marine Memorial Rededication Ceremony at the USS
ARIZONA Education Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 19, 2016. Bishaw
sprinkled fresh Hawaiian water over the memorial, representing the
connection between Hawaii and the fallen Marines. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert Sweet)
|
“It's nice to see how the Marine Corps upholds their traditions
first hand,” said Angelika Khan, a native of Germany, whose son is
enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. “To have General Toolan come
down here to speak about these Marines was truly an honor and
something I will never forget, especially now knowing what kind of
institution my son is getting into.”
Memorials, like the one
rededicated to the USS ARIZONA Marines, pique visitors' curiosity.
“Anytime there is something new, people gravitate to it, but
it will always be here,” said Stanley Mertes II, a photographer for
the Pacific Aviation Museum. “Now there is something they will see
and they will take pictures to research it, only later to learn
about the history of these Marines.”
As the bugler plays
Taps, hushing the audience and even the passers-by, this event
illustrates the Marine Corps tradition of holding the highest regard
for the fallen with a poignant remembrance ceremony.
|
Members of Pyramid Rock Young Marines program prepare to post colors
during the Marine Memorial Rededication Ceremony at the USS ARIZONA
Education Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 19, 2016. The memorial is
dedicated to the 73 U.S. Marines that made the ultimate sacrifice
and their 15 fellow Marines who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert Sweet)
|
“So why is it that we still hold these ceremonies?” Toolan asked the
audience. “There are several reasons: even though 15 of the men
whose names are inscribed on the Remembrance survived the attack on
Pearl Harbor, none are still alive today, so there is no one left to
tell their story – no one but us, and this marker will help us in
telling that story for many, many years to come.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Robert Sweet
Provided
through target="_blank" href="http://www.dvidshub.net">DVIDS
Copyright 2016
The U.S. Marines
|
Comment on this article |
