Various memorials commemorate the history and sacrifices associated with the Attach on Pearl Harbor across the location on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. However, few honor the individuals who lost their lives in the attack itself like the USS Oklahoma Memorial. The connections it makes with the people who lost their lives on the USS Oklahoma are as powerful as the experiences that audiences can have all across the landmark.
One of the Ships on “Battleship Row”
The USS Oklahoma was the 37th battleship commissioned by the United States Navy in 1916. Moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940, it was among the vessels in what became known as “Battleship Row” during the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which took the brunt of the assault. The USS Oklahoma was sunk during the attack, resulting in the loss of 429 crew members. That made it the second-greatest loss of life at Pearl Harbor.
The ship would soon be salvaged, raised and decommissioned but the effort to commemorate the people who lost their lives in the attack didn’t take shape until 2007, when the USS Oklahoma Memorial was dedicated. The monument is constructed of 429 pieces of three-dimensional white marble columns, each of which features a name of a crew member that died during the attack. Additionally, black marble slabs have notable quotes from Oklahoma survivors, providing visitors with further historical context.
Visitors can engage with the USS Oklahoma Memorial in especially personal ways, as walking through the columns makes it feel as though the audience is amidst the rails of a ship. The names on each column as well as the quotes provide them with essential means of connection to the people and history that the memorial commemorates. These connections have made it an important place for Pearl Harbor and to audiences from all over the country in ways that will continue to resonate.
The Legacy of Sacrifice
Many of the survivors and family members of those who lost their lives during the Attack on Pearl Harbor were able to attend the dedication of the USS Oklahoma Memorial, highlighting how it has been able to connect audiences across the eras. The landmark will continue to do so as a legacy to the people who sacrificed their lives for liberty and freedom.
