Respect at USS Arizona
The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor serves as a sacred site honoring the 1,102 sailors and Marines who lost their lives during the attack on December 7, 1941. Recent reports of FBI Director Kash Patel participating in a snorkeling excursion near the wreck have raised concerns among veterans and military families about the appropriateness of such actions at military memorials. The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining respect and humility at these sites, which are dedicated to the memory of those who sacrificed for their country.
- ▪The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains cemeteries and memorials honoring Americans who died overseas.
- ▪The USS Arizona Memorial is not an ABMC site but is considered equally significant due to those entombed beneath it.
- ▪Recent snorkeling activities by officials at the memorial have been criticized for lacking respect for the site and its significance.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
OvertimeRespect at USS ArizonaPlus: What You Missed This Week From The BulwarkMark Hertling and Jim SwiftMay 16, 2026ShareHappy Saturday! Overtime is for everyone. If you’re a Bulwark+ member: thank you. If you’re not, there’s no better time to subscribe to Bulwark+ than today. If you like today’s issue, you can share this newsletter with someone you think would value it, especially since this issue features a poignant essay from Mark Hertling.ShareGeneral views of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial on July 5, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)Respect at USS ArizonaBy Mark HertlingThe American Battle Monuments Commission is one of the smallest but most sacred institutions in the U.S. government. Most Americans have never heard of it.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Bulwark.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Bulwark
