Submitted by Jacqueline Shand on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the School of Education…
This week I had the privilege of visiting Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. At first, I was not too excited about this visit because I was never into history. However, after my time there, I felt so much more connected to United States history. First, I watched a documentary explaining the Japanese motive behind the attack, the day of the attack itself, and the pain all Americans felt during this time. Learning about each vessel and the brutal attack showed how this devastating event brought Americans together. Hawaiians hold this day close in their hearts in memory for those they have lost, holding an annual ceremony at Pearl Harbor on December 7th. This made me so much more appreciative of the men who had died for our country. I am truly thankful.