HONOLULU (KHON2) — The 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is right around the corner. To commemorate the somber, yet historic event, the Hawaii State Archives are helping shed light on the event and honor the war dead.
The Pacific War Memorial Commission will share planning documents and maps with the public, showing the plans to build five World War II memorials for military members killed in battle.
According to officials, even Elvis Presley contributed to the cause, after holding a concert at Pearl Harbor to raise $52,000.
In the end, only two out of the five memorials were built.
The attack on Pearl Harbor killed more than 2,400 men, women and children. Department of Accounting and General Services director Keith Regan explained the documents are a testament to the community’s desire to honor those who fought and died for the country.
It’s important we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is our privilege as a state and as a community to have the responsibility for honoring their bravery. These are the heroes who brought us lasting peace in the Pacific.
Keith Regan, Department of Accounting and General Services director
The initiative hopes to showcase the importance of each military member involved in the Pearl Harbor attack.
“It was all about the individuals and making sure they were never forgotten, and that their sacrifice is understood today,” explained Adam Jansen, Hawaii State Archivist.
The public can all seven boxes of documents at the State Archives in their Downtown Honolulu office.
For more information, visit the Hawaii State Archives’s website.