Pearl Harbor 60th anniversary public events

Advertiser Staff

PUNCHBOWL

• Remembrances on Dec. 7 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl begin at 10 a.m., with more than 3,000 expected to attend. The ceremony will include a "missing man" and B-52 bomber fly-over, wreath-laying, joint color guard and 21-gun Marine Corps artillery salute.

Because of the number of visitors anticipated, the cemetery will curtail gravesite visiting until 1 p.m. Attendees will be required to arrive at the cemetery in buses because of limited parking and security considerations.

Call 532-3720 for more information.

USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL

• The National Park Service, which operates and manages the USS Arizona Memorial and its shoreside facilities, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor with a week long schedule of special events for the public Dec. 1-7 on the grounds of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center.

Activities include guest speakers, author book signings, entertainment, military bands, exhibits, color guard presentation ceremonies, historic Pearl

Harbor Boat Tours, and visits by Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona survivors hosted by the National Park Service, Arizona Memorial Museum Association, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department and the different branches of military service.

Because of new security precautions, no bags, purses, diaper bags or other containers that could conceal items will be allowed at USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. All events are free and open to the public.

Kama'aina days

• Commemorative activities will kick off with kama'aina-theme days on Dec. 1 and 2, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Activities include color guard presentations; performances by the 25th Infantry Division (Light) Tropic Lightning Band, Royal Hawaiian Band, HPD Pipe and Drum Band, 442nd Hula Halau and other local entertainment; as well as special exhibits and historical displays depicting the roles civilians and civilian authorities played during the Pearl Harbor attack. The exhibits and displays will be presented by the Honolulu Fire Department and Honolulu Police Department and will feature the original fire truck that responded to attack fires at Hickam Field. Special speakers include Eddie Croom, Honolulu Police Department; Ed Ichiyama on the 442nd Infantry Recognition; Stanley Akita, 100th Battalion Recognition; and Dan Takehara, Military Intelligence Service.

Military days

• Each of the following days will feature entertainment, ceremonies, displays and speakers from a different branch of military service:

Monday, Dec. 3, 7:30 a.m. to noon — U.S. Army Recognition Day

Tuesday, Dec 4, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — U.S. Navy Recognition Day

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7:30 a.m. to noon — U.S. Marine Recognition Day

Thursday, Dec. 6, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — U.S. Air Force Recognition Day

Historical Pearl Harbor Boat Tours

• Special historically themed Pearl Harbor boat tours will be offered free to the public on Dec. 1 and 2, 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. The tours will be available by advance reservation on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 422-2771, ext. 128.

These special boat tours will offer visitors the opportunity to travel through time, from the geologic formation of Pearl Harbor to its importance to Native Hawaiians and subsequently, to its strategic significance to the military. Visitors also will discover how the history of Pearl Harbor extends far beyond Dec. 7, 1941. There will be no stops at the USS Arizona Memorial during these special boat tours. In addition, all visitors taking the normally scheduled complimentary USS Arizona Memorial interpretive tours that take place daily every 15 minutes, from 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m., will receive a special Pearl Harbor 60th Anniversary commemorative keepsake ticket. Tickets for these tours are dispensed on a first-come basis.

Dec. 7 Ceremony

• 60th anniversary commemoration public ceremony at the memorial:

• 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. (Pacific Fleet Band, National Park Service 60th Anniversary Ceremony and special speakers.)

• 9:30 a.m. to noon (Pacific Fleet Band, 108th Arizona Army National Guard Band, USS West Virginia Survivor Dick Fiske and Japanese Pilot Zenji Abe, USS Arizona Reunion Association Ceremony.)

Arizona Memorial

• USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center museum, bookstore and exhibits open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. USS Arizona Memorial interpretive boat tours depart every 15 minutes, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservations. Tickets dispensed on a first come basis. (No public tours to Memorial on Dec. 7.)

For more information on National Park Service events call 422-2771, ext. 110, or go to www.pearlharborevents.com

FILM SCREENINGS

• The Discovery Channel and the History Channel have created new documentaries on the USS Arizona which Hawai'i audiences will have to the opportunity to see prior to their air dates. Free world premieres will be held at Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Tapa Ballroom:

• Dec. 1, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Discovery Channel Night: "Death of the Arizona"

• Dec. 2, 7 to 9:30 p.m.: The History Channel Night: "Save Our History: USS Arizona." Seating is free and available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Film makers will be present at both showings, and at The History Channel event, special History Channel product giveaways and student/teacher educational materials will be provided to attendees.

For more information call 422-2771, ext 110 or visit www.pearlharborevents.com

PARK SERVICE CONFERENCE

• The National Park Service is sponsoring the "Pearl Harbor 60th Anniversary Conference: A Day to Remember, A Time Not Forgotten," Hilton Hawaiian Village, Dec. 1-5. Conference registration is $249, or $75 a day; active, reserve or retired military and students/faculty, $149, or $50 a day. For registration and program schedule, call 422-2771, ext. 110, or go to www.pearlharborevents.com.

• Gala banquet, Dec. 5, 6 to 10:30 p.m., Hilton Hawaiian Village. Survivors gather for dinner, dancing and silent auction, $150. Special USO entertainment and recreation of Jitterbug dance contest. Tickets, 422-2771, ext. 110.

"PEARL HARBOR" MOVIE

• Special screening of the movie, Dec. 4, 7 to 10:30 p.m., Waikiki 3 Theater, with introduction and commentary by Disney executives, $15. Money raised will help build a new museum for the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. For tickets, call 422-2771, ext. 110.

FLAG-RAISING

• Pearl Harbor Survivors Association National Reunion flag-raising ceremony, Hawai'i Convention Center, 7:55 a.m. Dec. 5. Mayor Jeremy Harris will be keynote speaker.