Through the gift of a retired American flag from survivors—along with a promise “To always remember those who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941”…the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River honorably keeps that pledge. 

The memorial garden is a sobering reminder and a stunning tribute to the brave individuals who were aboard the USS Arizona when the attack on Pearl Harbor came—devastating a nation and stunning the world. 

Northeast Valley News overheard a man talking quietly while paying respect in front of one of the historical blocks that explains to the public detailed and recorded accounts of what actually happened that day.

”They paid the ultimate price,” he said.

The USS Memorial Gardens at Salt River was designed in amazing and exact duplicate to the length and width of the USS Arizona with more than 1,500 silver and white columns illuminated and representing every individual that was aboard the ship on December 7. The park is open daily to the public from dawn until dusk.

It’s quieting to the core to look out over the water and observe the USS Arizona memorial at night knowing that each light is representative of a courageous soul, now, long gone—but not forgotten. 

In another area of the memorial the names of those who perished and those who survived can be read, one-by-one.

Northeast Valley News watched the last of the visitors leave the memorial garden well after dark. As vehicle headlights pulled away from the park—the immense illumination of the USS Arizona and its intense light appeared even brighter in the night sky. 

The memorial’s “light” will likely stay with visitors long after they have left.