A Personal Take: Pearl Harbor 70 Years On

Seventy years ago, the quiet base at Pearl Harbor, HI was attacked by the Japanese, pushing a reluctant United States into World War II.

Approximately, 2,400 people were killed that day and another 1,282 wounded in the bombings.

I visited Pearl Harbor in 2008 and was struck by the quiet beauty of the memorial. Like the fields of Normandy or the serene peace of Arlington National Cemetary, the memorial is a stark reminder of the sacrifice made by those brave men and women who stood up and fought for the United States.

Three of my grandparents are WWII veterans and after hearning my grandmother's powerful story about joining the Army on Dec. 8, 1941, I knew Pearl Harbor was somewhere I had to see.

The floating museum sits over the wreakage of the U.S.S. Arizona. The interior contains a marble wall listing the names of all those that died on board the ship.

Tour guides will tell you that there are more bodies entombed in the ship today than when it sank in 1941. That's because survivors of the attack have asked to be cremated and buried with their fellow sailors. Trained divers deliver the remains of the veterans back to ship.

I'm sharing a few of my photos from Pearl Harbor in the hopes that the simple power of the scene will remind us all of the great sacrifice made by all those who serve.

Thank you to all those who served and continue to serve our country.