We Will Not Forget
We did not really know what to expect in regards to our children’s reactions to Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. The kids have heard a bit about World War II through the literature we love. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten Boom are part of the family, as their stories inspire us in walking out our faith. And as we all walked through history, touring the Pearl Harbor exhibits and experiencing the short documentary of the attack, it had an impact. Chloe, our tender-spirit child, feels things quickly and her face reflected her emotion the whole time we were visiting the memorial. To know that people had been killed was almost incomprehensible for her, and she was a little fearful it might happen again while we were there. Kendall wanted to know what we could do with what we were experiencing. I was able to explain that a memorial is something to help us remember. God had the Israelites pile twelve stones on the bank of the Jordan to help them to remember what he did for them when He parted the waters for them to cross on dry land. The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial was created to help us remember all of the brave men and women who died in WWII and the attack on Pearl Harbor. By remembering and learning from the past, we will all be better prepared for the future.
U.S.S. Arizona Memorial
It was a very sobering and reverent atmosphere, providing a great opportunity to remind our children that none of us know the day or the hour that we will set out on our own journey home, so we need to prepare now by knowing and loving Jesus.
In our tour group was a man who had actually served on the U.S.S. Missouri during the Pearl Harbor attack. He enlisted in the navy when he was sixteen years old and he was coming back to remember his comrades. What was super cool was all the people walking up to him thanking him for his sacrifice and service for our great nation.
I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 7:2-3 – “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.”
U.S.S. Missouri
USS Mullinnix 1972 - Thanks for serving our country Grandpa!!!
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I’m thinking the three little beauties would have rather been at the beach. Pretty cool nonetheless.
Oh, I actually read the comments after the video. It is a rather sobering experience to visit a memorial. I remember my ship sailing past the memorial back in 1972 on our way back from Vietnam. There are still pictures of the USS Mullinex (DD 914) online, of our tour of duty off the coast of Vietnam.
We added a picture of the ship you served on! Thanks again for serving our country.