It was the oil that got to me. The oil still rising from the USS Arizona. The tour guide explained that the reason there were so many sailors on board that morning was because the ship was headed home for the holidays,  and that she was full of fuel. He also said that the oil will continue to rise for another 60+ years.

A little background. My father was at the base and left on the 6th headed to Java, with a stop at Christmas Island. After December 7th, he fought as a tail gunner in the B-17 in the Pacific.

We got to Pearl Harbor around 6:30 in the morning, and stood in line with the hopes of getting our tickets.  We got the last tour at 3:00.   It was worth the wait. A beautiful day, a moving memorial.  And I got to pay my respects by leaving my flowers in the water.