The thing that I didn't expect when walking onto the Battleship Missouri was the wooden decks. I always thought that these big metal navy ships would have big metal decks. It was surprising.

Yesterday I spent my time at Pearl Harbor. I like quiet Sundays that are as free of commercial interuptions as possible. It's hard to find a non commercial environment in southern Oahu, but Pearl Harbor is the closest thing to it.

I've been to Pearl several times. It's one of the only places that I feel comfortable crying in public. I hate shedding tears among strangers. And I really don't like being manipulated into tears by stupid, made-up stories. But standing on the Arizona memorial after watching film footage of the events of the morning of December 7, 1941, I always puts a lump in my throat and gives me a heavy heart. It's hard to imagine what it was like for over 2000 Americans to lose their lives in a surprise attack.

I have often stood next to survivors of that day, come to Pearl to pay their respects. They are old and physically worn out. I tend to think of the soldiers who died as being like these aged soldiers. But then I stop and remember. The soldiers who perished on December 7, 1941 were, for the most part, young, with their whole lives waiting for them. They were recently children and were just doing their duty. And then, in a instant, their lives were over. No more tomorrows. No time to spent with wives, children, parents. So when I stop and remember them, sometimes I cry and I thank God for people who are willing to defend freedom.

For the first time ever, I stood on a US war ship. The Might Mo, as the soldiers refer to her, is a magnificent ship. The United States Navy has given her a place of honor on Battleship Row, bow to bow with her sister ship, the Arizona. It's only fitting.

The Missouri should be a national park, or a national museum. The surrender documents for Japan were signed on her decks. She served with distinction in three wars. She is the last battleship ever completed by the US. The Missouri is maintained by a volunteer staff of eleven men. I was interested to see what shape she was in.

For the most part, she looks pretty good. But some of the deck is rotting, there is rust and bubbled paint on many of here exposed areas, and it's easy to see that without proper maintenance, the situation will only get worse.

Donations and ticket sales keep the Mo floating. So, go and see the Missouri. Take the Cheif's tour. We did. Give a generous donation on the way out. I'd hate to see us lose this national treasure..........
7:06:10 PM    comment []