Remembrance Tour

On Wednesday, we took the Remembrance Tour at Pearl Harbor.  *I apologize to everyone who has ever visited us and had to do the normal day at Pearl Harbor, like all the other tourists, but I didn't know about this tour until this trip.*  The Remembrance Tour is for military only.  You show up at the "Boathouse" home of the boats that belong to the Commander and Chief and the Deputy Chief of the Pacific Fleet.  Here's what the CICPACFLT's boat looks like.  

From the backside looking in:

We were told that every President since Eisenhower (except for both Bush's) took their Pearl Harbor tour in this boat.  Don't worry, the Navy has nothing against the Bush family!  Truth be told, when George H. Bush came out, this boat was in dry dock for repairs, so he took the Deputy Commander In Chief's boat.  When George W. Bush came to visit, he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and took the Deputy's boat as well.

Also in the waiting area is a red carpet, seating area, and tons of historic pictures.  Here Clay, our military buff, sits in the CIC's chair as we wait on the tour to begin. 

We had our picture taken at the check in area.

Much like the normal tour of Pearl Harbor, we walked through a room full of pictures of the attack and models of the USS Arizona and we also watched the same 20 minute video you do at the visitor's center.  The differences started with the boat ride.  These tours hold a maximum of 40 people, as opposed to 200.   Our boat was very nice with leather seats.  

Heading out of the boathouse. 

Instead of going straight to the memorial, our tour circled historic Ford Island and we were given lots of interesting tid-bits that I had never heard before.  For example, I never even knew there was a memorial for the USS Utah, much less that the ship is still there!

We also saw the flight tower that was in the movie Pearl Harbor.  *This tower by the way wasn't built until after WWII, so it never should have been in the movie to begin with!*

Coming around Ford Island, you get a great view of the USS Missouri.  

Right here (on the ship) ladies and gents is where WWII ended.

And here it began.

Clay and his mom, Gina

Haas is Gina's maiden name.  We're not sure if there is any relation to this Haas.

I just love to see old Glory flyin'! 

I highly recommend the Remembrance Tour to anyone who can go.  If you come to Hawaii and you know an active duty military person, ask them to take you.  It's totally worth it.  However, on this tour you don't get to stop by the visitor's center, so we drove over afterwards to let Clay buy some souvenirs at the gift shop.  After our tour we went to the swap meet, then barely made it home in time to change before heading to the LUAU!  

The Luau post is next!