Pacific Historic Parks - USS Arizona Memorial

08/24/2026

: Private First Class Felipe Sanchez was born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He later immigrated to Chicago and worked in a steel mill. In Oct 1940, he registered for the draft, and in November 1942, he enlisted in the US Army.

After training in California and Oregon, he was sent to the Pacific. In October 1944, he arrived in Leyte in the Philippines and helped fight to liberate Leyte from the Japanese. During the fighting, he was injured and awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

From Leyte, he was sent to Okinawa for Operation Iceberg, where he was wounded in the Battle of Tombstone Ridge during a second (successful) attempt to move inland. Felipe was brought to the USS Okanogan, where he died of his injuries. He was buried at sea.

Source: Joshua Mendez at https://nhdsilentheroes.org/profiles/felipe-sanchez/

08/24/2026

Four World War II veterans from Kentucky are all turning 100 or older this year, and their community is working to gather hundreds of birthday cards to honor them.

One of them is Glenn Cummins, who is turning 100. Glenn served in the Philippines during World War II and later as a paratrooper in Japan.

Another is Vincent Guagliardo, who is turning 101. Vincent served four years in the US Navy and was sent to Japan following the war.

Learn more: https://youtu.be/UCHFiNvwrGk?si=A2USzneDSiayYiFT

To honor the veterans' 100th birthdays, city leaders are working to...

08/24/2026

World War II Across America’s National Parks: An Introduction

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, we embrace the story of America from our founding to today. National parks help preserve many chapters of that story, including one of the most defining events of the 20th century: World War II. Sixteen million Americans served under arms, more than 400,000 were killed, and countless millions more supported the war effort at home. The war touched every part of American society, and little was left unchanged—including national parks.

For the next 16 weeks, leading up to the 85th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the National Park Service will take you across the country to explore America's experience in World War II through the lens of national parks. These sites preserve different parts of America's wartime story, including both triumphs and tragedies. This list of parks is by no means exclusive, nor are the stories that will be shared. They represent just a fraction of the war's impact on our parks and the nation, with many of those impacts still felt today.

To follow the series, use . Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a new park will share its story and point you to the next stop in the journey.

The series begins here at .

Image Caption: WWII enlisted visit Grand Canyon National Park.
Image Credit: NPS/Emily Welch

08/24/2026

We are marking 80 years since Honouliuli’s gates closed. Join us to remember what happened here.

Honouliuli: A History Awakened

Featuring Jake Shimabukuro, Kenny Endo, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Nā Lei O Ka ‘Iwa Ha‘a I Ka Lani - Hui ‘Iwa Academy,
Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio Hawaii, Will Espero, and more.

The benefit concert is presented by Pacific Historic Parks.

Sun., 9/27/26
Doors 3pm | Show 4 pm
Hawaii Theatre Center
Tickets at HonouliuliAwakened.com

08/21/2026

Pearl Harbor wasn't always deep enough for battleships.

For much of the 19th century, a coral reef at the harbor entrance prevented deep-draft ships from entering. Beginning in 1902, the entrance was dredged and deepened, eventually creating a channel about 600 feet wide and 35 feet deep.

In 1911, USS California became the first large ship to enter Pearl Harbor.

The harbor would go on to become one of the most important naval bases in the Pacific.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/perl/learn/historyculture/pearl-harbor.htm

🎨: View of Pearl Harbor by Joseph D. Strong, 1890

08/21/2026

During the USS Arizona live dive on Memorial Day 2026, an NPS diver described his state of mind as he viewed the wreckage.

📷: Brett Seymour, National Park Service Submerged Resources Center
Reel created by Rebecca Schwab

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

08/21/2026

: USS Oklahoma didn't sink only at Pearl Harbor.

More than five years after the attack, USS Oklahoma sank again on her way to California.

Source: NPS and US Navy.

08/21/2026

Our MIS Veterans Hawai'i member, Gov. George Ariyoshi, passed away on April 19, 2026 at age 100. We have been asked to share information about his services with our members and friends.

Fri, Sept 18, Hawai'i State Capitol Rotunda
10:30am - 12pm on 9/19 Public Visitation
6:00pm State Service
Sat, Sept 19, Kawaiaha'o Church
2:00-4:00pm Public Visitation
4:00-5:00pm Service

Services are open to the public. We hope our MIS Veterans Hawai'i members and friends can attend and help honor our long-time governor and MIS member. May he rest in aloha... 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙

08/21/2026

08/19/2026