Submitted by Megan Reilly on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the College of Health Sciences…
Visiting Pearl Harbor this past week was an experience that I will never forget. On Monday, I was able to learn more about the history of the attack that occurred on December 7th, 1941 and the aftermath of World War II. First, we went to the USS Arizona Memorial which marks the resting place of over 1,000 servicemen that lost their lives. As I visited this historic site with such significance I was able to connect with the feelings of loss and devastation. It also provided me with an opportunity to reflect on the shattering effects of war that are still felt today. Additionally, by walking through the museums featured at the memorial, I learned about how the Native Hawaiian population was involved in and affected by the war. From the exhibits, I discovered that the Hawaiians planted victory gardens to supplement rationed food, built bomb shelters, hung camouflage netting, and helped string barbed wire along their beautiful beaches. I was particularly interested in learning more about their contributions to the war, as I never learned about this in my schooling growing up. We then ended the day by touring the USS Missouri which is a battleship that is best remembered as the site of surrender by the Empire of Japan, which ended World War II. I was amazed that I was able to observe the exact spot in which the treaty was signed and get a sense of what life was like on the ship. Overall, I was honored to explore and further learn about these locations that hold such great significance in American history.
