By Campbell Darney
Professional Writing for New Media Student
Grand Canyon University
For Honoring America’s Veterans, December 7th is more than a day of remembrance—it’s an annual tradition. The Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona, is a solemn and powerful gathering dedicated to ensuring the 2,403 souls lost on that “date which will live in infamy” are never forgotten. It is a moment of connection between the tragedy of 1941 and the patriotic heart of our state.
The event holds a profound and unique significance for Arizonans, centered on the fate of the USS Arizona. The battleship, named in honor of our state shortly after it joined the Union, remains sunk in Pearl Harbor, a permanent memorial to its 1,177 crew members lost. In Phoenix, at the Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza where the event is held, houses massive, tangible relics of the ship, including the Signal Mast and one of the battleship’s anchors and a gun barrel. These artifacts tether the memory of the event directly to our community, reminding us of the ultimate sacrifice.
The annual ceremony traditionally takes place at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, a fitting location surrounded by monuments to Arizona state’s veterans. The event is intentionally timed to begin at 10:55 a.m. MST, which corresponds to 7:55 a.m. HST—the moment the attack began in Hawaii.
The program includes:
- Patriotic musical performances
- Tributes
- Best Aloha Attire Contest
Over the years, Honoring America’s Veterans have grown the event to include a flyover by the World War II Biplanes, a moving spectacle that brings the history to life.
This commemoration is a core part of the mission of Honoring America’s Veterans. By holding this event, which is free and open to the public, it is ensured that the story of Pearl Harbor and the spirit of WWII veterans are passed to new generations. Honoring America’s Veterans are committed to memorializing the sacrifices made and celebrating the enduring strength of the American spirit that rose from the ashes of that fateful morning.