PEARL HARBOR

speaker 1: STEPHAN: To most people, when one says "Hawaii" the word generally conjures up visions of beautiful beaches with swaying palm trees and pristine, turquoise ocean waters. A tropical paradise bristling with festive luaus, sun bronzed dancers performing the native Hula, surfing, steel guitars and of course an incredible day packed with consistently gorgeous weather, but to some when you say the word Hawaii one thought immediately comes to my mind: Pearl Harbor.


speaker2 : Stefan: On Dec. 7, 1941—at five minutes to eight o'clock, 183 Japanese warplanes ruined a perfectly fine Sunday morning on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The first attack wave had reached the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Oahu's Pearl Harbor and for all intents and purposes,when the United States entered the war

speaker 1: Pearl Harbor is located on the south coast of Oahu
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack that shocked the US. On the morning of December 7, 1941, planes and midget submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy began a surprise attack on the U.S. under the command of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo. Despite long-standing assertions that this attack could have been predicted and prevented by the United States Military, the US forces at Pearl Harbor appeared to be utterly unprepared, and the attack effectively drew the United States into World War II. At 6:09 a.m. on December 7, 1941, the six Japanese carriers launched a first wave of 181 planes composed mainly of torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters.

speaker 2: After losing more than 416,800 soldiers and more then 1,700 civilian. We finally won the war.

5 years later The USS Arizona Memorial was establish at Pearl Harbor to honor those who died in the attack.
Suggestions for such a memorial began in 1943, but it wasn't until 1949, when the Territory of Hawaii established the Pacific War Memorial Commission, that the first real steps were taken to bring it about.

speaker 1:The Visitor Center is the first stop for visitors planning to tour the Memorial. Located within the Center are: two theaters, a museum, a bookstore, restrooms, limited snack bar, public telephones, and exhibits outlining the Pearl Harbor attack.

speaker 2:what visitors can expect
When guests enter the Visitor Center, they are asked to line up for a numbered ticket, which provides free admission to the Memorial tour. While waiting for the program to begin, many visitors tour the Visitor Center and its shoreline exhibits including the museum and Remembrance Circle.

speaker 1:When the number that appears on their ticket is called, visitors are asked to assemble at the theater entrance in preparation for the tour to begin. The guided tour* of the USS Arizona Memorial includes a 23-minute documentary film depicting the attack on Pearl Harbor, a short boat trip and a self-guided exploration of the Memorial. Now there is a wall with the names of every one that died during the attack

Today, 63 years later, more than 1.5 million people a year visit the memorial that floats over the sunken Arizona to pay respects to the loss of life that occurred on what President Franklin D. Roosevelt would call "a date which will live in infamy."