Remembering the Heroes of WWII
In recognition of its 10th anniversary and the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Dec. 7 bombing of Pearl Harbor, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor recently hosted an expanded Living History Day with a multitude of historical exhibits, presentations by award-winning authors and hands-on demonstrations highlighting the history, bravery and heroes of WWII.
Living History Day saw more than 2,000 guests visit the museum.
This year’s event included special tributes to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, WWII exhibits created by local high school students, and meet and greets with WWII American military veterans of Japanese ancestry. The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii presented a short documentary film called “Honouliuli: Hawaii’s Hidden Internment Camp” that sheds light on the longest operating and largest WWII internment and POW camp in Hawaii.
Costumed interpreters represented Rosie the Riveter, Cornelia Fort, USCG Lieutenant Frank Erickson, Japanese AFC Shigenori Nishikaichi who bombed Pearl Harbor, and more WWII characters of history.
There were presentations and book signings by WWII authors Dorinda Nicholson (Pearl Harbor Child) and Marc Wortman (1941: Fighting the Shadow War). Nell Calloway, granddaughter of General Claire Lee Chennault, who led the “Flying Tigers” and the Republic of China Air Force during WWII, spoke, presenting her grandfather’s heroic feats. Other activities included swing dance, aircraft riveting in Lt. Ted Shealy’s Restoration Shop, historic aircraft modeler demonstrations, open cockpits, and meet-and-greet time with the WWII veterans.
Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is located on historic Ford Island, where bombs fell during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Visitors to the museum can see remnants from that day of infamy, including the 158-ft.-tall red and white iconic Ford Island Field Control Tower still under restoration, Hangars 37 and 79, and bullet holes and battle damage in hangar 79.
(http://www.PacificAviationMuseum.org)
Picture: The recent Living History Day saw more than 2,000 guests visit Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor. The event featured open cockpits, costumed historians, presentations by award-winning authors and more, highlighting the history and heroes of WWII. (PRNewsFoto/Pacific Aviation Museum)
