Each year, on December 7th, Pearl Harbor hosts’ events honoring the attacks of 1941, and this year, the tradition will continue, marking the 75th anniversary of the tragic attacks. The island of Oahu was forever changed on that morning, and the memorials and monuments found at Pearl Harbor stand to honor those who were lost.
2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the attacks, and this year’s remembrance will host a variety of events in the week leading up to the commemoration ceremonies. Beginning on December 1st, visitors will find many events at the Visitors Center at Pearl Harbor and various locations around Oahu, along with satellite events in Washington D.C. and New York City.
On the morning of December 7th, the Visitors Center will host a day that deviates from the standard operations at Pearl Harbor. Because of the importance of these ceremonies, tours of Pearl Harbor are not available and the museums found around the harbor and at Ford Island are not available. The day is reserved to remember the fallen heroes and honor those who survived the tragic attacks. All tours will resume on December 8th, and are also available in the days leading up to December 7th.
The island of Oahu came under attack at 7:48am, and the moment is marked by a moment of silence. As you peer over the harbor, all those in attendance can feel the sorrow, with the USS Arizona Memorial in close site offering a reminder of what was lost on that day.
December 7th is full of events and many are free and open to the public:
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration
7:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | Kilo Pier, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Annual Wreath Presentation
8 a.m. | Marine Corps Base Hawaii | Free, Open to the Public
Freedom Bell Ringing
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park | Free, Open to the Public
75th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Mass Band Performance
Noon to 1 p.m. | Battleship Missouri Memorial | Free, Open to the Public
USS Oklahoma Memorial Ceremony
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | USS Oklahoma Memorial, Ford Island | Free, Open to the Public
Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade and Public Ceremony
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki | Free, Open to the Public
For a full list of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Events, please visit the official website.
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