Pearl Harbor

How do you photographically “do justice” to this site, “a place of honor, respect, and contemplation” that is so significant in our national and global history, as well as to the men and women who gave their lives on that “day of infamy”? Especially on your first visit when you aren’t given all the time you’d like to have?

• I photographed the wall with the names of those who died on December 7, 1941, on the USS Arizona…

• I photographed the flag you see here from *inside* the Memorial (and I almost chose that one)…

• I photographed the barbette for the gun turret that still rises out of the water and the nearby water that still shows oil leaking out of the ship…
See other 365 posts:
» http://365project.org/lynnb/365/2013-11-11
» http://365project.org/skyyeblue/365/2014-05-08
According to the National Park Service — http://www.nps.gov/valr/faqs.htm — the leakage is 2–9 quarts per day. The Arizona held approximately 1.5 million gallons of oil. “The ship burned for 2½ days leaving an unspecified amount of oil onboard. Oil has been observed leaking from the ship since the 1940s.”

None of those shots satisfied me, but this is the one I shot that is “good enough.” Taken from the Navy launch as we were boarding to leave. Taken with my P&S Nikon.

The concrete landing on the left was built after the sinking.

» Tonight: Fireworks on Waikiki Beach.
» Tomorrow: Parade in Honolulu and then fly to Maui.

1 year ago (“Three generations … but probably not what you think”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-09-26
2 years ago (“Stink Bug on Black Pearl”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-09-26
3 years ago (“Sunrise at BTV…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-09-26

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[Rick Schies]

I would assume it would be impossible to capture the kind of emotional impact such a memorial would have on you, just like the Viet Nam War memorial, taking in all the lives that were lost