PRESERVING THE MEMORY

Transcription

1 PRESERVING THE MEMORY 73RD ANNIVERSARY PEARL HARBOR DAY COMMEMORATION DECEMBER 7, 2014

2 Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Harris was born in Japan and raised in Tennessee and Florida. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978 he was designated a naval flight officer, and has since served in posts across the globe and participated in numerous major operations, from Desert Storm to Iraqi Freedom. Harris graduate education focused on East Asia security, including degrees from Harvard and Oxford. He served as commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet from November 2009 to October 2011, and most recently as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Harris was promoted to Admiral and assumed command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in October Harris has logged 4,400 flight hours in naval aircraft, including over 400 combat hours. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal, among others. General Lori J. Robinson Commander, Pacific Air Forces General Lori J. Robinson is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports more than 46,000 Airmen serving principally in Japan, Korea, Hawai`i, Alaska and Guam. General Robinson entered the Air Force in 1982 through the ROTC program at the University of New Hampshire. Through her career, she has served in a variety of air battle manager positions; has commanded at the group and wing levels; and served in a variety of key staff positions including Director of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Director of the Air Force Legislative Liaison Office, and Vice Commander of Headquarters Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va. She also has been a deployed vice wing commander and served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command; Deputy, Combined Force Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia. Rear Admiral Richard L. Williams Commander, Navy Region Hawai`i and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Rear Admiral Richard L. Williams is a native of Pittsford, New York, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology and was commissioned through Navy ROTC as a Surface Warfare Officer in June A surface warfare officer, Williams commanded USS McInerney (FFG-8) and served aboard USS Trippe (FF-1075), USS Taurus (PHM-3), USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG-34) and USS O Bannon (DD-987). He has had major command assignments, including leading task groups and maritime operations in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as directing maritime Counter Piracy and Counter Terrorist operations. Paul DePrey Superintendent, National Park Service, WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument Superintendent Paul DePrey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maine in 1990 and a Master of Arts degree from Western Washington University in DePrey served as Acting Superintendent at Great Basin National Park in and as Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources at Joshua Tree National Park from He served as Chief of Natural Resources and Fire Management at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area from Prior to working for the National Park Service, DePrey worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the USDA Office of the Secretary.

3 PEARL HARBOR DAY COMMEMORATION Hawaiian Blessing Kahu Kauila Clark Welcome Master of Ceremonies Robert Sandla Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired Moment of Silence USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) Pass-in-Review Flyover 199th Fighter Squadron, Hawai`i Air National Guard 19th Fighter Squadron, U.S. Air Force Presentation of Colors, National Anthem, and Hawai`i Pono`i Joint Service Color Guard, U.S. Pacific Command Kapolei High School Choir Prayer for Peace Reverend Chitoshi Noshita Japan Religious Committee for World Federation Guest Speakers Superintendent Paul DePrey, National Park Service WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument Rear Admiral Rick Williams, Commander, Navy Region Hawai`i and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Admiral Harry Harris, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Keynote Speaker General Lori Robinson, Commander, Pacific Air Forces Wreath Presentations Benediction Captain Bill Kennedy, Chaplain, Navy Region Hawai`i and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Cannon Salute 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, U.S. Army Echo Taps & Postlude U.S. Pacific Fleet Band Walk of Honor Pearl Harbor Survivors and other WWII Veterans Flyover Pacific Warbirds Tug Boat Water Tribute

4 PRESERVING THE MEMORY By: Daniel A. Martinez, Chief Historian, WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument, National Park Service This year s theme for the 73rd anniversary of Pearl Harbor is Preserving the Memory. Why does the preservation of our national memory of December 7th garner such importance? How will the National Park Service at WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument carry out its mission of preserving memory? To get the conversation started, consider this quote from American historian Steve Berry: History is not something obscure or unimportant. History plays a vital role in our everyday lives. We learn from our past in order to achieve greater influence over our future. History serves as a model not only of who and what we are to be, we learn what to champion and what to avoid. Everyday decision-making around the world is constantly based on what came before us. Why? Because history matters! The history of December 7th matters to me and to those who work at WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. As professionals we are dedicated to preserving that memory. How did that principle begin here? And what elements made the USS Arizona Memorial and that date in history so vital to the nation s memory? In 1980 the United States Navy transferred responsibility for the operation of the USS Arizona Memorial and a new shoreside visitor center facility to the National Park Service (NPS). This new national park was established by Congress through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Navy. Thus began the role and responsibility of the National Park Service at one of the nation s most treasured memorials. The park s first superintendent, Gary Cummins, realized rather quickly that the NPS had inherited relics of the Pearl Harbor attack. Many had been donated to the Navy from their years of operation ( ). This included battle artifacts, documents, books and photographic images. The era of Preserving the Memory had arrived. Over the next few years, Superintendent Cummins made critical decisions to preserve the history of Pearl Harbor. The park s first museum curator, Mark Tanaka-Sanders, cataloged artifacts and created a park library and history files. Chief Ranger Mark Hertig implemented interpretive training and education programs for the park rangers who gave talks at the memorial and visitor center. Seasonal ranger Edean Saito recalled, I was a high school teacher and was tasked with providing school children who visited the memorial an educational experience that would bring meaning and value to their visit. Superintendent Cummins realized that historical knowledge of the site was dismal. Legends, in some cases, had become accepted history. There was no consistent memory. A contract historian was hired to assist the NPS in developing a key document. In October of 1984 contract historian Michael Slackman presented a two-volume manuscript to the National Park Service titled Historic Resource Study: USS Arizona Memorial. The 486 page document included a detailed history of the attack on Oahu and specific information on the devastation that occurred at Pearl Harbor. Slackman also included chapters on the aftermath of the attack and the movement toward memorializing the men who served on the USS Arizona. This indispensable historic resource study was funded by the park s cooperating association, the Arizona Memorial Museum Association (AMMA; now Pacific Historic Parks). It was the first public document that detailed the early history of the new National Park Service site and the USS Arizona Memorial. Due to the popularity of the manuscript, AMMA s business manager Gary Beito and Superintendent Gary Cummins decided to publish a comprehensive history of the memorial, preserving the memory of this beautiful, haunting touchstone of our World War II past. First published in 1985, the book Remembering Pearl Harbor: The Story of the USS Arizona Memorial, is still in print today and serves as the official history of the monument. I arrived in Hawai`i in the summer of 1985, fresh from Custer Battlefield National Monument, to work as a summer seasonal at the USS Arizona Memorial. During that first year, I met Michael

5 Slackman and enjoyed the pleasure of his company and historical expertise as well as his passion for preserving the memory of Pearl Harbor. I was hooked and decided that my permanent career with NPS would begin here both sides of my family were present during the attack. In 1986 dive operations were underway at the sunken USS Arizona and Utah, the only two ships left from the attack on December 7, A wealth of information was derived from these scientific explorations. Drawings were made, photographs taken and models made. A report was produced and published for public interest and consumption. The Submerged Cultural Resource Study was authored by Daniel Lenihan and Larry Murphy of the NPS Submerged Cultural Resource Unit. It is interesting to note that we continue to probe, explore and examine these ships with today s cutting edge technology; science continues to provide unsurpassed insights into the preservation of their memory. The years leading up to the 50th anniversary were fraught with controversy and open political battles over the commemoration of the Pacific War. The first national commemoration to be observed was at Pearl Harbor in December of For many, that remembrance is what we consider the first Pearl Harbor Day. Noted author Edward T. Linethal made these observations in his book Sacred Ground: America and Their Battlefields : These battlefields (Pearl Harbor) function in diverse ways. On the one hand, they are ceremonial centers where various forms of veneration reflect the belief that the contemporary power and relevance of the lessons of the battle are crucial for the continued life of the nation. Furthermore, many people believe that the patriotic inspiration to be extracted from these sacred places depends not only on a proper ceremony but on a memorialized, preserved, restored and purified environment. On the other hand, these battlefields are civil spaces where Americans of various ideological persuasions come, not always reverently, to compete for the ownership of powerful national stories and to argue about the nature of heroism, the meaning of war, the efficacy of martial sacrifice, and the significance of preserving the patriotic landscape of the nation. That 50th anniversary was honored by a presidential visit from George H. Bush. His speech to the thousands of Pearl Harbor Survivors and their families was memorable and purposeful. It was the first time a President addressed the issue of reconciliation with our former enemies. George H. Bush speaking at the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. His words rang out over the hushed crowd gathered at Kilo Pier. I wondered how I d feel being with you, the veterans of Pearl Harbor the survivors on this very special day. And I wondered if I would feel that intense hatred that all of us felt for the enemy 50 years ago. As I thought back to that day of infamy and the loss of friends, I wondered: What will my reaction be when I go back to Pearl Harbor? Well, let me tell you how I feel. I have no rancor in my heart toward Germany or Japan none at all. And I hope, in spite of the loss, that you have none in yours. This is no time for recrimination. World War II is over. It is history. We won. We crushed totalitarianism and when that was done, we helped our enemies give birth to democracies. We made our enemies our friends... The President s words paved the way for the Park Service to broaden the interpretation of the site. New opportunities to preserve the memory were opened. President Bush s words were clearly meant to foster reconciliation.

6 Today the USS Arizona stands as a reminder of the events of that sunday morning. It has different meanings for those that visit here. But to all of them it speaks silently and eloquently of the distance yet to be traveled before the world lives in peace. Michael Slackman Since Bush s speech, major ceremonies of reconciliation have taken place between American and Japanese veterans at the USS Arizona Memorial. A Tea Ceremony hosted by the Tea Master of Japan was held on the monument and the National Park Service was gifted a Sadako crane from the Sadako Sasaki family. Educational workshops now include American and Japanese teachers. The visitor center and museum include both American and Japanese perspectives and memory. Today, thousands of Hawai`i s school children participate in our educational programs. For many young students it is their first visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. Many of the teachers require them to write about their experience: Dear Arizona Memorial, I really liked going to the Arizona Memorial. I really enjoyed the movie and taking the boat to see the Arizona Memorial. It was really interesting to learn how the U.S. became involved in World War II. I liked watching the real life documentary of how it was like for people to see those Japanese planes and the damage they caused. My favorite part was getting to see the Arizona in the water. Thank you for making my trip to the Arizona Memorial the best ever. I really appreciate all the work that you did to make this a really entertaining and fun field trip for us. The presidential proclamation on December 5, 2008, expanded the mission of preserving the memory of Pearl Harbor to the all-encompassing story of the Pacific War. Key to the proclamation was these words: WHEREAS the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument will promote understanding of related resources, encourage continuing research, present interpretive opportunities and programs for visitors to better understand and honor the sacrifices borne by the Greatest Generation, and tell the story from Pearl Harbor to Peace. George W. Bush, President, The White House The challenges of preserving that memory are daunting, but plans and programs are underway to continue the mission of preserving America s memory of the Pacific War and its related sites. In the words of the late Michael Slackman: Today the USS Arizona stands as a reminder of the events of that Sunday morning. It has different meanings for those that visit here. But to all of them it speaks silently and eloquently of the distance yet to be traveled before the world lives in peace. From Alison Punaho, Grade 6