Arizona Memorial Museum Association

December 7th, 1941 is a day that every American is aware of. It is the date which has lived in infamy. On that date, the United States entered World War II after a surprise air raid on the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Twenty years later, a memorial was dedicated to the men who lost their lives that day. That memorial spanned the hulk of the battleship Arizona, one of two ships that never floated again after that attack. Over the years, this site has become a gathering place for veterans, their families, and their descendants, as well as tourists from around the world. Today's Family First Site pays a visit as well, to the association that maintains the memories of that day.

The site is called the Arizona Memorial Museum Association (AMMA(. The Arizona Memorial is maintained by the National Parks Service, which is part of the US Department of the Interior. The AMMA is a cooperating association of the Parks Service. Their primary purpose is to aid the interpretation and related visitor service activities at the Memorial. As a non-profit organization authorized by Congress, AMMA makes interpretive and educational materials available to park visitors by sale through their bookstores and mail order program. They also support research, interpretation, and conservation programs of the National Park Service. Their secondary purpose is to assist the National Park Service in financial matters of which federal funding is not available, or where the program is at the extreme low end of the ladder in priority.

They are currently involved in fund raising for a new museum, located on land adjacent to the memorial. This is due to current museum is sinking, literally, into Pearl Harbor. (For those of you who have not been there, the museum is located in Pearl Harbor, within sight of the Arizona Memorial). They are taking that opportunity to expand the size of the building, allowing them to show more of the artifacts, photographs, documents, and personal memorabilia, many which have never been seen by the public due to the limited space of the current museum.

There is a sense of peace and tranquility at the Arizona Memorial. I have been there several times, and it is quite an amazing site to see. It is an important part of our history and our culture, and something we should never forget.

http://www.arizonamemorial.org/

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