...it's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there...
I like this photo of U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.
As most of you know, it is a naval tradition for sailors to line the deck of a carrier when passing U.S.S. Arizona and also Mt. Vernon.
I visited the Arizona Memorial once. (It's where I learned that "quay" is prononced "key.") For those who haven't yet, you definitely should go see it. The National Park Service runs the museum onshore, and before you get on the ferry to the memorial, they make you watch a movie about the attack. It's a good idea because it puts everybody in a somber mood before they go to the memorial.
When you get on the ferry boat, they make a big deal about how you are no longer in the custody of the Park Service; now the Navy is in charge, which makes you even more respectful by the time you step onto the memorial. It is a cemetary after all.
The group I was with was very quiet while on the memorial, as I imagine most visitors are. It was a beautiful day, and all you could hear was the flapping of the American flag overhead or the occasional clang of the line against the flagpole. When you look over the side, you really can see the Arizona, only a few feet below the water's surface. And there really is oil coming out of her after all these years. And inside still, are the men. They died sixty-five years ago today.
Pearl Harbor Trivia: Bonus points go to whoever can name the ship that survived Pearl Harbor, only to be sunk by a British torpedo!
Gotta be the Yorktown...
Posted by: shelly on Dec. 7, 2006Oh Annie, thats easy. The General Belgrano! During the Falklands War. It was an old US Navy Cruiser USS Phoenix which was sunk by a British Submarine. Sad that it was sunk but when you come out to play with the big dogs that kind of thing happens. I was listening to the book "Stalingrad" and Hitler was talking about a war of annihilation. Interestingly by the end of the War the Russians were using the same term!
Now I'll take Famous Phrases for $100.00!
Posted by: Drake Steel on Dec. 7, 2006Nobody likes a showoff steel, u... corksucker.
I remember when I was waiting for the ferry out to the memorial twenty years ago. I was approached by a very dignified Japanese gentleman of war service vintage, and he asked me where the memorial was. I told him, "Right over there where you fucking left it!"
Posted by: Casca on Dec. 8, 2006Casca: LMAO
In 1957, I was in Israel and I approached a lady and asked is she spoke English; she drew herself up to her full height and hautily stated "I AM English."
Steel: You lose. Annie What was "The General Belgrano?"
I'll take "Surrender Mokeys" for $500.00
Posted by: shelly on Dec. 8, 2006lol, Casca. I encountered quite a few Japanese tourists on my visit too. Interestingly, I also met a very nice Japanese man when I visited Manzanar a few years ago.
Shelly you already buzzed in with the incorrect answer, the Yorktown. I'm surprised at you. The Yorktown was a carrier, and as everybody knows, there were no carriers at Pearl Harbor that day. Plus the Yorktown was sunk by the Japanese, at the battle of Midway I believe.
Drake Steel is correct and would have control of the board... if we were doing Jeopardy, which we're not.
Posted by: annika on Dec. 8, 2006I know it hard to believe, but I actually misread the question the first time.
Later, I notice a Jeopardy answer but incorrectly stated. He can't control a board unless he gives a proper Jeopardy answer. I'll appeal it to your stupid judges, one of whom must be Reinhardt.
Please don't read this as a signal for another game. I have no time for that now.
Go study for the Bar.
Posted by: shelly on Dec. 8, 2006I experienced the Arizona Memorial for the first time this past August. It really was sombering. I didn't see any of the "black tears," though. I wish we had had time to visit Punchbowl Cemetary, as well, but time was at a premium during my trip.
Posted by: Leah on Dec. 11, 2006Visiting the USS Arizona and then taking a quick bus ride to check out and walk inside Big Mo' was one of the more memorable experiences of my life. I also noticed how so many people take their leis off and throw them down the exposed turrets...
Posted by: Amy Bo Bamy on Dec. 13, 2006