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The USS Arizona Memorial just a short time before its official opening on Memorial Day, 1962.

USS Arizona Memorial
Creating the Memorial

The Origins

After the end of World War II, many individuals recognized the need for a memorial to the dead of December 7th, 1941. Navy personnel sought a tribute to the sailors who died at Pearl Harbor, others sought to commemorate the Japanese attack itself. In 1946, Mr. Tucker Gratz, a prominent Oahu businessman, spearheaded civilian efforts toward the creation of a shrine to the sunken battleship USS Arizona. The efforts of Mr. Gratz and others led to the creation of the Pacific War Memorial Commission (PWMC) in 1949. The PWMC was tasked with the creation of permanent World War II tributes in Hawaii, including a monument to those killed in the December 7th attack. Navy leaders also sought a memorial to the sailors who died on the USS Arizona. In 1950, Admiral Arthur Radford, the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, ordered the construction of a wooden platform and flag mast on the boat deck of the ravaged USS Arizona. The hoisting and striking of the colors over the USS Arizona became a familiar tradition at Pearl Harbor during the 1950’s. Admiral Radford also requested funding for the creation of a shrine over the USS Arizona both in 1950 and 1951, but the funding was not available due to Korean War commitments. The combined remembrance efforts of the civilian and military were finally realized when President Eisenhower signed Public Law 85-344, authorizing the creation of the USS Arizona Memorial on March 15, 1958.

Fundraising

The public law stipulated that the monument would be built without federal funding. The Pacific War Memorial Commission was tasked with raising the $500,000 required it build the structure. Several organizations and individuals helped in the effort to raise the required amount. In 1958, the Territory of Hawaii contributed the initial $50,000. On December 3rd, 1958 the popular television series, “This is Your Life” hosted by Ralph Edwards featured Samuel Fuqua, Medal of Honor recipient and the senior surviving officer from the USS Arizona. This broadcast kicked off the public fundraising campaign. Over $95,000 was raised for the new permanent structure. Three years later, singing idol Elvis Presley hosted a benefit concert on March 25, 1961 at Pearl Harbor’s Bloch Arena, raising $54,678.73 (National Park Service figures). The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) partnered with the Revell Model Company to sell plastic models of the battleship USS Arizona. Enclosed inside the kit was donation information on the instruction sheet. This led to a contribution of over $40,000. Finally, on September 6th, 1961, freshman Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye secured federal funding, which contribute the final $150,000 to complete the construction. In the end, public money was required to meet the goal of the PWMC. The legislation stated that the Memorial was “to be maintained in honor and commemoration of the members of the Armed Forces of the United States who gave their lives to their country during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941.”

Design

The Navy planners stipulated that the design should in the form of a bridge that should span the ship without touching it and hold 200 visitors. A committee of US Navy personnel and PWMC board members accepted proposals from many architects for the opportunity to design the edifice. This honor was eventually awarded to Mr. Alfred Preis of Johnson, Perkins, and Preis of Honolulu. Preis’ first design featured a submerged viewing area where visitors could view the sunken ship through portholes.

This proposal was not met with enthusiasm by the Navy and was outside of the scope of the initial design. It was withdrawn by Preis. Despite this early setback, Preis went forward with a second concept that was more in accordance with the Navy’s philosophy. The Memorial design was now more open and soaring. The structure would span the wreck of the Arizona and intertwine symbolism and architectural integrity. In early 1960 the construction firm of Walker-Moody was granted the contract to build the Memorial. As construction progressed, some of the wreckage of the ship was removed to make way for the new memorial. This material is still stored at a Navy facility on Waipio Peninsula.

Dedication

The USS Arizona Memorial was completed on May 25, 1962 and dedicated a few days later on Memorial Day. Some had hoped for dedication on the twentieth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but that proved impossible. Years of fundraising and dedication to an idea had resulted in an eloquent, yet understated structure. Over 200 guests attended the dedication of the USS Arizona Memorial. Dignitaries from the Navy and the public listened to stirring speeches and the strains of carillon music. Prayers were said, hymns were sung and taps echoed hauntingly through the columns of the Memorial architecture. A sudden volley of rifle fire from a Marine honor guard provided the final punctuation. The Memorial had moved from a dream to an idea to an icon of America’s past. It embodied the tragedy and grief of the nation within an edifice of dignity and grace. Strangely, forty years later, it is still a place where the world comes to remember Pearl Harbor and Americans still come to mourn.