History - You quickly notice when something is very important to the Americans

Atejade: 06.08.2023

Today there is a lot to read. Shahaatz thinks it's too detailed, but you just have to get through it today.

Today is all about experiencing history - and who of you knows what history you can experience in Hawaii ????? You have a moment.

In my travel guide it says you should be there early, otherwise there will be a long wait for the shuttle boat. Admission is at 7:00 a.m.

I compared it to New York, the crossing to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. It started at 8:00 a.m. with the first boat, we were there 15 minutes early and got the 2nd boat.

That means getting up early. At least it's not so crowded at breakfast. However, no one could have known that at 6:35 a.m. it felt like half the hotel wanted breakfast.

At 7:45 a.m. we reach the, according to my travel guide, free parking lot of the Pearl Harbour Memorial.

That's right, you knew. Today, the history of Pearl Harbor is on the agenda.

Facts

The memorial is located on an active military base, was inaugurated in 1962 and consists of 3 museums, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, the Pacific Aviation Museum and the battleship USS Missouri, as well as the USS Arizona Memorial.

Well, the free parking is no longer up to date in the 2019 travel guide. The first $7 gone. Never mind, we have to get to the boat. There's a sign "Shuttlebus to boat", that must be it.

The first goosebumps moment: the flag is raised to the American national anthem - goosebumps.

But now let's continue.

Oops, the travel guide said it was free. Strange, but maybe it has changed. The next $47.95. We are slowly understanding the system, or maybe not? The nice lady at the counter informs us that we just bought tickets for the submarine museum, which we didn't even want to go to. Fortunately, we can return the tickets.

We ask where we need to go and take the recommended shuttle bus, firmly believing that we will finally get to the feeder boat. Yes, we get to a boat, just not the one we want. After a 10-minute bus ride, we find ourselves in front of the battleship USS Missouri.

Well, since we're already here, let's take a look at a battleship. We had already seen an aircraft carrier in San Diego (USS Midway). That cost us another $75.

Facts

The USS Missouri was commissioned in 1944 and participated in the Pacific War from 1945 onwards. On September 2, 1945, history was made on the Missouri when Japan's political and military representatives surrendered on the foredeck, marking the end of World War II.

The ship is 270 meters long, 32 meters wide and had a crew of 1500-2800 men. It became a museum ship in 1984.

While walking through the ship, I realize that being a sailor wouldn't be for me, the stairs are too steep and there are far too many of them, and I'm too old for such uncomfortable beds, and I never was in them either.

But now quickly to the bus so that we finally get the shuttle boat. Let's quickly recreate the kissing scene.

- oh no, the arm is not positioned correctly and the leg is bent - let's try again. Darn, missed the bus again and another 15 minutes of waiting.

I imagined a military base differently. Where are the big, muscular, closely shaved soldiers in uniform, walking in groups, in step, singing as they go? Driven by a nasty drill sergeant with a mustache and aviator goggles.

Instead, it's suburban idyll with a family riding bikes. Kids, what has become of the world?

We skip the aviation museum. (That would have been another $60).

Have you calculated how much a history day for 2 people costs?

By now it is 10:45 a.m. when we finally reach the correct queue for the shuttle boat. After 5 minutes, we enter a cinema. Oh, now we get to see a film about what awaits us. We already know what awaits us, just not as a film, but as audio. In addition, we are warned that this is a place of remembrance and reflection, and no photos, videos, no Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, and Co. are allowed on the way to the boat, from the boat, or in front of the memorial. It is best for us to silently visit the memorial.

In the memorial, however, photos are allowed again.

How illogical. But I don't have to understand that.

Facts

The monument, in the form of a 56-meter-long bridge, spans the hull of the sunken warship USS Arizona without touching it.

The ship was sunk on December 7, 1941, during a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 1177 sailors died on the ship, of which 1102 found their final resting place at a depth of 12 meters. The sinking became a symbol of American humiliation and America's entry into World War II.

Today, a large opening can be seen from the bridge, allowing you to look down on the wreck. Due to the advanced state of decay of the USS Arizona, oil leaks out. The oil drops are known as the "tears of the Arizona".

Every US Navy ship entering the port of Pearl Harbor follows the tradition of honor. The crew of the ship stands on deck in dress uniform and salutes the USS Arizona Memorial as the ship slowly enters the harbor.