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Aloha.
My name is Garry Jackson
and I'm an Interpretive Park Ranger here,
at the World War II
Valor in the Pacfic National Monument.
This afternoon,
we're on board the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.
The names that are listed
just fronting the memorial wall itself,
dated from 1982 through 2010,
are the names of survivors.
Survivors that were fortunate enough
to make it off the ship
on the attack on the "Arizona"
on December 7, 1941.
These survivors went on to serve their country
and upon leaving the military,
spent their lives and had families
like we would normally do.
And of course, upon passing,
they have requested
to be re-entered into the ship
allowing them to spend eternity
with their shipmates that they left behind;
serving still the "Arizona" 'til this day.
Now, these individuals are first cremated,
their ashes then placed in a very special,
water-tight urn.
For maximum privacy,
we wait unti the end of the work day,
when the last tour has been completed.
Only then, do we reserve the Navy boat
that brought us out here
to bring the urn,
family members,
and a full honor guard here to the memorial.
Once on the memorial, they'll set up and stage
a detailed ceremony
to honor that individual.
Upon it's completion,
with "Taps" played in the background,
the urn is officially marched out to the lower dock.
There, it's turned over to our chief diver.
The diver, upon accepting the urn,
swims from the dock,
just beyond Gun Turret #3
and continues to the fourth gun turret.
It's this fourth gun turret, as you can probably imagine,
that remains underwater 24/7.
At the base of the #4 Gun Turret,
is a 5 1/2 foot crevace.
The individual will then slowly swim
along this 5 1/2 foot area
as they look for an opportunity
to insert the entire urn,
thereby returning them to their shipmates for all time.
Out of the 33 interment services
here aboard the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial,
I've attended two.
Of those two,
I can say that they are very deep and profound.
It's very much a military type of ceremony
honoring the individual
and it does bring tears
to the eyes by the time it's completed.