Search Results for: blog remembering pearl harbor

Spending Memorial Day at Pearl Harbor

Memorial Day is a little more than a week away and while you might have your travel plans set to embark on a weekend adventure to the beach, the woods or the lake it would behoove you take some time between your barbeques and ball games to remember what this holiday is all about. Memorial Day was set aside to honor all the men and women who have given their lives in military service to this country. The holiday began as a tribute to Union soldiers during the American Civil War. Following World War I, the observance was expanded to … Continue reading →

Remembering Pearl Harbor

There is a sadness in certain events that, like it or not, have become a part of our lives. For the younger generation, it is September 11th and for the older generation it is December 7th, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I don’t remember the Pearl Harbor attack and I don’t think it was until I experienced September 11th that I could really understand the horror my grandparents must have felt on that day. In the attack, two Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS West Virginia), one minelayer, and two destroyers were sunk. Three cruisers, … Continue reading →

Visiting Pearl Harbor’s Newest Attraction

Imagine taking flight with your son over the Hawaiian Islands on a peaceful Sunday morning. You’re piloting an Aeronca 65TC, sportstrainer airplane en route to Honolulu. The views are incredible, you’re enjoying your son’s company, and the ride is as smooth as silk. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, you encounter the first wave of Japanese Zero fighters on their way to attack Pearl Harbor. Next thing you know, your plane is being riddled with machine gun fire and you’re fighting to keep it in the air. Sounds like the stuff movies are made of (a version of the scene was … Continue reading →

Books for Pearl Harbor Day

Today is December 7th, the day we commemorate the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese which marked the beginning of the U.S. war in the Pacific. We were already at war in Europe, and suddenly we found ourselves fighting on two fronts, torn in two directions, sending our soldiers all around the world in pursuit of the cause of freedom. Along those lines I would like to recommend some books that take us from the beginning to end of the war in the Pacific. 1. “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” by Ted W. Lawson. In March of 1946, four months … Continue reading →

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Thursday marks the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into World War II. In a previous blog I shared my personal story about Hawaii’s most popular tourist attraction, which draws more than 1.5 million visitors from around the world each year. Pearl Harbor Naval Base is home to the USS Arizona, the USS Utah, the Battleship Missouri and in 1999, the USS Missouri Memorial opened, further enhancing the importance of this historic area. To commemorate the event numerous events will be taking place throughout Oahu. If you are lucky enough to be … Continue reading →

Do You Shield Your Child?

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, the 70th anniversary of a sneak attack that devastated a nation. I’ve studied this event a bit in the past, and it’s pretty gruesome. I want my children to understand facets of history, and yet I worry about giving them too much information before they’re ready for it. This is one of the ways in which parents are uniquely qualified to teach their children—they understand their child’s maturity level and they know what that child can and cannot handle. I have a daughter who can’t hear any bad news on the radio or it distresses … Continue reading →

Wide World of Sports Host Jim McKay Dies

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Jim McKay, long time host of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports,” died today at the age of 86 of natural causes. There was a period during the 70’s and 80’s when I was growing up that I never – NEVER – missed “Wide World of Sports.” I loved that show – regardless of what sport they were covering that particular day. Part of the likability of the show was due to Jim and his great sports casting. He hosted the show for 37 years. When you are a host of a popular show for that long, you have to be … Continue reading →

Educational Programs for Kids in Hawaii

In a previous blogs I mentioned that you would regret traveling all the way to Hawaii and not visiting the state’s most famous tourist attraction–Pearl Harbor Naval Base. The base is home to the USS Arizona, the USS Utah, the Battleship Missouri, the USS Missouri Memorial, and the newest addition to the area, the Pacific Aviation Museum on Pearl Harbor’s Ford Island. What I failed to mention in those blogs is that youngsters (age 5 and up) have the opportunity to get more out of their visits by enrolling in special summer programs. Pearl Harbor’s Educational Summer Programs are designed … Continue reading →

The Victory Garden – Lee Kochenderfer

During World War II, families across America planted their own gardens to help with the war effort. The more food that was produced here, the more food the government was able to send to the troops. “The Victory Garden” by Lee Kochenderfer, an intermediate historical fiction novel, is the story of one such garden. Teresa is a young girl who wants to earn money to buy war bonds. Her older brother is a pilot and has been overseas for some time, and she’s anxious to do whatever she can to bring him home sooner. When her teacher announces that they … Continue reading →

Taking Back 9-11

It’s the 6th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Like Pearl Harbor before it, September 11th is a day that will live in infamy for our generation. My daughter, who will be 7 in November, has no real clear cut idea of what today means. She just knows that today is a sad day. She cannot comprehend what happened. She cannot fathom the depth of grief, fear or pain that occurred. I am glad. Taking Back Today I remember each and every detail of the day in stark relief. I remember the way the house smelled. I remember the clothes … Continue reading →