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This a Kleenex ALERT!

When we stopped at Hawaii on the way back from an assignment in Korea we took the time to take the Pearl Harbor Tour and then go aboard the USS Arizona Memorial.

I'll always remember my son's reaction (he was just going into 1st grade). I explained what had happened and why it was a Memorial. That the big plaque on the wall listed all names of the men who died and were still aboard the ship and how the Navy considered the men and the ship still as serving.

He sat there on the bench looking into the well. He began sobbing and saying "We have to get the men out and send them home to their moms. Their Moms need them to come home!" Two young female Navy enlisted Petty Officers in uniform came over and sat on either side of him on the bench and started sobbing and hugging him and telling him that it was all right they were with their friends and we were honoring them.

The trip back to the dock from the memorial was a real pass the Kleenex box trip. He got lots of hugs from the boat crew (those same two young enlisted female Petty Officers) and the dock personnel (it seems they radioed in to them his reaction).

He remembers those men to this day. Each time he's flown in or out of the Phoenix Airport he's always taken a few moments to just gaze at the exhibit of the USS Arizona with the ship's Silver Service from the Ward Room and gets VERY angry at the Peace-Nik crowd.

I was proud of him then and remain so today; he understands!

One of those still down there is my cousin, Jesse Silvey from Alvin, TX, MM2C, 1918-1941. We won't forget them.

Whoa, SandRat, great story. Bet all present remember that day.

He had a fine teacher. Thank you.

Now, where's that Kleenex... {^;