By Jim McAllister

The date is December 8, 1941 and President Roosevelt is preparing to address Congress. He begins: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." With that statement describing the attack on the U. S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, the United States was thrust into World War II. The first wave of Japanese aircraft attacked at 7:53 a.m. and by the end of the second wave at 9:45, the U. S. had suffered casualties of 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians while 1,178 were wounded. Of the dead, 1,177 were men stationed on the Battleship USS Arizona which was destroyed when a bomb hit the forward magazine starting a series of explosions. Eight Arizona residents were listed among the dead on the Arizona which was moored near Ford Island on that dreadful morning 65 years ago.

Today, the remains of the Arizona still lie in the same shallow water where she sat helpless during the attack of Pearl Harbor. In 1962, the Arizona was declared a national shrine and a memorial was built across her remains. A room within the shrine lists the names of the dead crew members and regular memorial services are performed to respect their memory. A new flag of the United States is raised each day above the site and at the end of the day is folded and given to various dignitaries.

Time has taken its toll on the memorial and in September, 2005, Governor Napolitano toured the site and pledged Arizona's help in raising $34 million to build a new visitors center. In the September 20, 2005 edition of The Arizona Republic, the Governor declared, "It's Arizona's battleship. When it was commissioned (1916), they broke not just a bottle of champagne over its bow but a bottle of water that had just come over the newly created Roosevelt Dam. We've always had a close connection with the USS Arizona." Governor Napolitano also declared 2006 as the , "Year of the USS Arizona Memorial." Many of the dead from the Arizona are still entombed within its hulk. Oil still seeps from the wreckage after 65 years and is sometimes referred to as "the tears of the Arizona." Each year the number of the survivors from the Arizona decreases and many have made arrangements to be cremated with their ashes placed by their fallen shipmates at the site. Many of these men believe that the oil will continue to leak until the last survivor dies.

Every President since Franklin D. Roosevelt and every Emperor of Japan since Hirohito has visited the site. All ships of the U. S. Merchant Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard show their respects by the tradition of "manning the rails." All personnel stand in silence at their ship's guard rails and salute the Arizona Memorial as they enter Pearl Harbor. It's a fitting tribute to a bunch of brave guys who fought to defend their country.