Lost in the midst of all the political pontificate is a horrendous oversight that needs to be realized by all Americans, especially those with ties to Oklahoma.
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| The U.S.S. Oklahoma on December 7, 1941 |
At Pearl Harbor, on Ford Island, there is a beautiful memorial to the battleship U.S.S. Oklahoma on which 429 men perished on December 7, 1941. The loss of life is second only to those who died on the U.S.S. Arizona.
The memorial is next to the U.S.S. Missouri, which is moored were the Oklahoma was on that fateful day. Unless the situation has changed over the last four months, the only mention of the Oklahoma memorial is a 30–second notice on the shuttle bus as it leaves the Missouri. There is a granite stone for each of the 429 men with their names inscribed. Meaningful legends are tastefully placed there. On this spot the men who escaped before the ship capsized gathered. Some expired before making this hallowed ground.
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| The U.S.S. Oklahoma Memorial |
With very little effort this memorial could be better utilized. It is under the U.S. Interior Department, National Park Service. Senator Tom Coburn and Congressman Frank Lucas have been contacted, but up to this time there has been no response. This is not just a thing for Oklahomans to deal with. It is an American thing, as these 429 could have possibly have called every state in the Union home. We owe a debt to these who gave “the last full measure of their devotion” in the service to their country. Please contact your representative in Congress regarding this, as every monument out there deserves equal attention.
ED. NOTE: Within hours after this posting, we have heard from Sen. Coburn's office, stating they are looking into the situation. We appreciate their timely response and cooperation, and thank you to those who contacted them.
