Was at the Arizona two weeks ago. We were sad and disappointed. People acted like they were at some tourist trap or amusement park, letting kids run wild, rather than at a memorial or cemetery
That is a real shame. I have visited the Arizona, and had the good fortune to be on the first tour of the morning. What an impact entering the memorial with no one else there. If anyone is going, try to get ther early if at all possible. It is worth it.
I agree with wolfhammer, go early. But it is still hit or miss with the tours, though. Some people just have no class at all. Like going to the movies, sometimes you just have to deal with the anal orifices.
As a kid ( I think I was 10 ) I visited the USS Missouri while she was docked in Bremerton WA. I remember standing silently over the plaque on the deck where the Japanese signed the surrender. Now that I,m older I still wonder what it was like to be onboard while she was fireing those " mighty" guns.
I remeber visiting the Alabama when I was about 10,and being amazed that the shell was bigger than I was. I cannot imaging what it must have been like when all 9 went off at once. I have had the honor to see 3 of the 4 remaining battleship classes that are museums, the only one I have not seen is the Texas. Those ships are amazing. While I cannot recommend the movie for its story or its realism, the movie Battleship has some truly entertaining scenes and the song Thinderstruck by AC/DC at a really appropriate time. In addition, they used some real vets in the movie, which adds something to it.
I was reading all your comments and was touched .
I forgot to mention that I did get to see the memorial in HIROSHIMA and the ARIZONA within weeks of each other .OH BOY ! what an emotional impact that was .OH , and at the ARIZONA there was a group of older JAPANESE fellows and their wives .They bowed and held place for a full minute BEFORE straightening up .I asked one of them (their english was surprisingly good ! ) why they bowed that way (I knew the meaning of it ) He explained that they did so to HONOR and SHOW RESPECT for those who died here !
I too stood near the plaque on the " MIGHTY MO " in BREMERTON .She was listing slightly and sitting in the mud (it was low tide ) That made me angry and then I was only 18 ! There are so many places and so many stories . I was at an ALAMO SQUADRON / I.P.M.S. show where a TUSKEGEE PILOT was present . His eyes got moist talking about the BOMBERS he escorted there and back . This is what " HALLOWED GROUND " Means to me And always will , Thank You All for sharing , and I look forward to more . OH, Yes ! I CRIED too , at the VIET NAM VETERANS MEMORIAL .
For me it was going to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. To stand next to a Lancaster and realise how big they were. Seeing a Japanese Midget Sub up close and they call them Midgets. They are bigger than you think. The Red Barons Flying Boots and Control Column of his Aircraft when he was Killed. The feared German 88 and a 109G plus a 262 and a 163. Saburo Sakai’s Zero. The most Haunting area was the Medal Hall. Approx 90/95 % of all Australian Victoria Crosses are there. The most saddest display Item would be the shot up Carley Float from HMAS Sydney sunk Nov 19 1941with all 653 Hands.
Being from a very old town (1666) there is alot around here.Just 10 minutes away is Washington rock where General Washington watched the British troops around New Brunswick,the USS New Jersey is about an hour away and a good museum. Monmouth Battlefield is nearby and the large battlefields in Pa are nearby,I have been to them all and are very humbling…
John
I’m in central Ct. Very close is battleship cove. New London Groton boat yards. New England Air Museum. Going to DC with my sons boy scout troop end of June. Can’t wait. John
In 1989 I got to see Goliad where Col. Fannin and his men were brutally murdered in what could be considered an early war crime. Too bad one of our Presidents gave the old butcher’s leg away.
I’ve been to Pearl and it was an honor to go to the Arizona Memorial. Equally thrilling, was visiting the Missouri and standing next to where the surrender took place. Before and after.