A date which will live in infamy...

I Thank Them for Their Service to Our Country. 

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Me too! I guess they all, pretty much, have left us by now. 82 years ago, Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Arizona is no longer in commission, but is an active U.S. military cemetery. As survivors of the attack on Arizona pass away, many choose either to have their ashes scattered in the water over the ship, or to have their urns placed within the well of the barbette of Turret No. 4. As a special tribute to the ship and her lost crew, the United States flag flies from the flagpole, which is attached to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship.

My dad served in the Pacific and his brother served in Europe. Neither of them talked much about the war. Both are gone now, dad passed away at 79 in 2001 and I'm not sure exactly what year my uncle passed away but it was after my dad. There aren't many of the "Greatest Generation" left these days. 

Posted by: @chris

Arizona is no longer in commission, but is an active U.S. military cemetery. As survivors of the attack on Arizona pass away, many choose either to have their ashes scattered in the water over the ship, or to have their urns placed within the well of the barbette of Turret No. 4. As a special tribute to the ship and her lost crew, the United States flag flies from the flagpole, which is attached to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship.

 

Thanks for this Chris!! It is an awesome feeling to stand on the Memorial and view the Arizona's remains, look over the entire area so many years afterward. There is still oil seeping up from the ship to this day (last photo). And knowing the men were still onboard is a somber and respectful experience.

We stood there in June of '08. You'll see the USS Missouri in the fourth photo and, again, behind me in the 6th shot.

How fortunate you are to have been able to pay your respects. That's one place of noteworthy American history I've yet to see.

@chris 

Yes sir!! Between there and Arlington National Cemetery, I have been humbled and fortunate to experience the history.

I've had the honor to officiate over several funerals at Arlington; two were full honors events with a horse-drawn caisson, color guard, and twenty-one-gun salute. Arlington is always a somber and humbling place, but the ceremonies are particularly moving, and the folding of the flag near the end is an incredible thing to watch. 

I had the opportunity to speak to one of the soldiers who participated in the ceremonies. He said they train for six months and must make every move perfectly to qualify.  He said, "It's one of the greatest honors of my life to walk these heroes to their final resting place."

@perrone1 

I was there in 2013 and have similar feelings about my experience.

Posted by: @jkuvakas

I've had the honor to officiate over several funerals at Arlington; two were full honors events with a horse-drawn caisson, color guard, and twenty-one-gun salute. Arlington is always a somber and humbling place, but the ceremonies are particularly moving, and the folding of the flag near the end is an incredible thing to watch. 

I had the opportunity to speak to one of the soldiers who participated in the ceremonies. He said they train for six months and must make every move perfectly to qualify.  He said, "It's one of the greatest honors of my life to walk these heroes to their final resting place."

I attended the funeral of my boss's Father who was in the Navy. The respect from the honor guard who officiated his burial ceremony brought tears to everyone's eyes they were so on point and almost like robots when they folded the flag and gave it to his son I've never experienced a funeral like that before.

Great events life recounted here by everybody's family members from "The Greatest Generation". My Dad was in the Navy/Coast Guard in World War II in Europe and the Pacific. I had an uncle was also in the Navy/Coast Guard then who served partly at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and my Uncle Jimmy Michels who was a Marine at the battle for Iwo Jima and was at the first flag raising at Mt. Suribachi. This is a picture of him in the center with the M-1 carbine at that first flag raising. It was replaced later with an even larger flag by other courageous U.S. Marines in the famous photograph by the AP photographer Joe Rosenthal.  

Posted by: @jkuvakas

I've had the honor to officiate over several funerals at Arlington; two were full honors events with a horse-drawn caisson, color guard, and twenty-one-gun salute. Arlington is always a somber and humbling place, but the ceremonies are particularly moving, and the folding of the flag near the end is an incredible thing to watch. 

I had the opportunity to speak to one of the soldiers who participated in the ceremonies. He said they train for six months and must make every move perfectly to qualify.  He said, "It's one of the greatest honors of my life to walk these heroes to their final resting place."

An honor indeed! What a memorable opportunity John!    

It's also a moving experience to watch the changing of the guard and witness the placing of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A couple photos I took 6/2009:

Posted by: @mikedetorrice

Great events life recounted here by everybody's family members from "The Greatest Generation". My Dad was in the Navy/Coast Guard in World War II in Europe and the Pacific. I had an uncle was also in the Navy/Coast Guard then who served partly at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and my Uncle Jimmy Michels who was a Marine at the battle for Iwo Jima and was at the first flag raising at Mt. Suribachi. This is a picture of him in the center with the M-1 carbine at that first flag raising. It was replaced later with an even larger flag by other courageous U.S. Marines in the famous photograph by the AP photographer Joe Rosenthal.  

An incredible memory Mike. I can feel the patriotism in your post! The events you talk about are portrayed wonderfully in Clint Eastwood's film, "Flags of our Fathers". We saw the monument in D.C.