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110%er [8009]
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Twenty fives years ago, my wife and I along with two friends
Dec 7, 2012, 3:04 PM
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visited Hawaii. We were all about 26 years old and just starting to spread our wings.
While there we toured Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. It was a very powerful experience. The park ranger, an older gentleman, told stories of the attack, some general information and some specific. He told tales of the men who died that day, including some of their backgrounds. There were about 15 or 20 of us in the tour and most of us were emotionally moved by his words. However, the moment that brought us to tears was at the end of the tour he showed us a picture of himself and explained that he wasn't just a tour guide, he had been stationed in Pearl Harbor on one of the ships in Dec 7, 1941. He was talking to us from first hand experience. He had lived through the horror of the day.
It's a moment I'll never forget.
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Hall of Famer [24997]
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I have also ben there
Dec 7, 2012, 3:19 PM
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It's a hallowing place.
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CU Medallion [57147]
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they probably still played the movie at the visitor's center back then
Dec 7, 2012, 3:23 PM
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that made you really hate the Japanese for what they did, right before boarding a boat full of Japanese tourists to go over to the Arizona. It was awkward.
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110%er [8009]
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Yes they showed that movie. Intrestingly enough...
Dec 7, 2012, 3:30 PM
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I went back to Hawaii in 1999 and we took our kids to Pearl Harbor. Earlier in the week we had met a Japanese couple at Diamond Head. On the bus ride to Pearl Harbor we met up again with the Japanese couple. We toured Pearl Harbor and the Memorial together. It was a cool experience.
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Enthusiast [127]
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Re: Twenty fives years ago, my wife and I along with two friends
Dec 7, 2012, 3:24 PM
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Went in 2005. It is a very emotional experience. When looking at the harbor you can see just how easy it was to inflict such losses. There were I think 22 set of brothers on board, a father and son and a boy who turned 17 on that day. Oil still drips up from below. Some service members who survived request their ashes be placed with the crew and friends they served with. There were a lot of Japs on the tour taking pictures, they were repsectful. After we left the Arizona we went to tour the Missouri battlewagon and stand on the surrender deck. There is a large bronze marker on the exact same place were the table sat and surrender documents were signed by the Japaneese. I never saw on jap tourist on board the Missouri.
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Hall of Famer [24997]
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This may be odd
Dec 7, 2012, 3:26 PM
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but I have never felt emotional connections to historical places. Like when they say "It happened right here!" I never get stirred. Like it has happened at a multitude of places.
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110%er [9666]
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That is odd. It doesn't always happen. But at Gettysburg
Dec 7, 2012, 3:32 PM
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and Fort McHenry - I felt connected to the battles and the people that were there somehow. I had goosebumps that wouldn't go away. If there are ghosts - I KNOW there are some at Gettysburg.
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Virtuoso [670]
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I'm the same way
Dec 7, 2012, 4:49 PM
[ in reply to This may be odd ] |
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I've been to many battle fields and forts and other such historic places, and I enjoy learning the history and hearing the stories. I've just never felt overcome with any sort of emotional reaction.
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All-TigerNet [12270]
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my wife and i visited there 27 years ago on our 2nd
Dec 7, 2012, 3:27 PM
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anniversay. we didn't have a vetern as a tour guide but what will stick with me forever is the eriy calmness of the memorial gave me chills. that and the memorial tour was the only place there were no japanese tourist around.
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Hall of Famer [24997]
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would japanese tourists ruined it for you?***
Dec 7, 2012, 3:28 PM
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Junkie [588]
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my grandfather faught in ww11
Dec 7, 2012, 3:34 PM
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That is without a doubt the greatest gerneration America.has ever seen
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Hall of Famer [24997]
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avoiding world war isn't a bad thing
Dec 7, 2012, 3:35 PM
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they just happened to be born into circumstances that were unavoidable.
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110%er [9666]
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And they STEPPED UP in a way that I don't think we
Dec 7, 2012, 3:40 PM
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would today.
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Virtuoso [670]
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I disagree.
Dec 7, 2012, 4:51 PM
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I think we'd step up just as well if necessary. I do think you'd have a harder time convincing people there's a real enough reason to need to step up, though.
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Orange Blooded [4504]
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Orange Blooded [4444]
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Orange Blooded [3311]
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Thanks For Sharing That! I fear the day is coming when
Dec 7, 2012, 4:40 PM
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very little is made of the tremendous sacrifices made during WWII. My father fought in Europe and my uncle in the Pacific and I have insured my children & will insure my grandchildren never forget the great men they were. God Bless America and Go Tigers!
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Orange Blooded [4504]
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Fortunate to have been many places in the world but by far
Dec 7, 2012, 5:06 PM
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the most emotional was visiting Pearl Harbor and Arizona Memorial. A truly moving experience.
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Orange Blooded [4789]
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