Steady On: The USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu

The USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu.
(credit: Architectural Digest)

“I saw how easy, how fast, it is to die,” says Army veteran Edward Davis on the atmosphere of one of history’s most tragic dates, December 7th, 1941 : the attack on Pearl Harbor. Close to 2,400 people lost their lives that day. “It’s something that can haunt you [and that] I never forgot,” he says. It’s a tragedy Americans and others worldwide remember not only to reflect on loved ones lost, but on the tragedy of war and importance of solidarity.

“It’s something that can haunt you [and that] I never forgot…”

— War veteran Edward Davis

Retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Sterling R. Cale, 90-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor, takes a moment in the shrine room of the USS Arizona Memorial to honor the 1,177 service members who lost their lives during the attack on the USS Arizona Dec. 7, 1941.
(credit: flickr)

But just how do you create a memorial for such a tragedy struck at sea? Today, a handsome memorial stands above the remains of the fallen USS Arizona in Honolulu, Hawaii, but the process to erect it took quite some time. The memorial’s roots go back to 1949, when it was originally commissioned. For a while, the memorial site was based around the tradition of raising and lowering an American flag planted above the ship’s remains by Arthur W. Radford, commander of the Pacific Fleet.

A permanent memorial was presented on December 7th, 1955 in the form of a large stone and plaque by the deckhouse’s remains. Since then, the memorial has definitely evolved thanks to an increase in funding. Architect Alfred Preis conceived the current memorial’s design, which acts as a kind of bridge over the old ship.

Credit: inrandom.com

The space is relatively small, accommodating about 200 guests – but the contrast of the serene white building over the fallen ship creates a profound emotional experience; it is at once grounding and peaceful, somber and optimistic. An aerial view of the memorial is even more moving, as one sees just how dramatic the juxtaposition of the Preis design with the ship is. Whether or not you or a loved one has a direct connection to Pearl Harbor, the memorial is a beautiful testament to those who lost their lives on that day – as well as a reminder of how precious a human life is.

Read more of SevenPonds’ Soulful Expressions here.