Tuesday, Dec. 7 marks the 80th anniversary of the attacks on Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor base that claimed the lives of more than 2,400 Americans in 1941.
This week, the community of Phoenix held Remembrance Day events to honor the lives lost and changed forever by the events of that day.
National events can be found at https://www.pearlharborevents.com/.
Memorial Day Ceremony at Pearl Harbor Arizona
Event Host: Arizona Department of Veterans Services.
When: Tuesday, December 7 at 10:55 a.m. (special guests escorted by helicopter will arrive at 10:05 a.m. and the Arizona National Guard’s 108th Army Band pre-show will be at 10:30 a.m.)
Or: Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza at the State Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.
Details: Governor Doug Ducey and Navy Commander Kevin Kahl will offer remarks during this free public event that begins with a flyby of four World War II combat biplanes. According to the Department of Veterans Services, “Veterans service organizations and patriotic groups throughout Arizona will lay memorial wreaths at the anchor of the USS Arizona in remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor.”
USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River’s 80th Commemoration
Event host: USS Arizona Memorial Gardens at Salt River.
When: December 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Or: USS Arizona Memorial Gardens, 7455 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. The location features an original piece of the USS Arizona which sank at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Details: This public event is free and available to the public in person or via live stream, available at 10:50 a.m. on USSArizonaSaltRiver.com. Although the Hall of Relics is only open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., ceremonies at the USS Arizona begin as early as 8 a.m. with a flag-breathing ceremony, gun salute, and wreath laying. A historic World War II warplane will fly overhead at approximately 11:10 a.m., and ceremonies for the Arizona Fire Department Pipe Band and Navy Honor Guard will begin at 5:00 p.m. Around 5:50 p.m., Remembrance Day will conclude with a military twilight illumination of the garden.
Reach out to breaking news reporter Athena Ankrah at athena.ankrah@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @AthenaAnkrah.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.