AMVETS National Commander Signature Project, Shoreside Dock

AMVETS National Commander selected the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Shoreside Dock as his Signature Project

Click the “donate” button below to make a donation, today.

On Saturday, November 17, 2018, AMVETS Hawaii Department Commander, Donovan A. Lazarus, 5 Post Commanders and Key Leaders met with the Senior Director of Development and Communications of Pacific Historic Parks, Gail Chew. The topic of discussion was our National Commander’s Signature Project to help raise funds to rebuild the Shoreside Docks at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.

The estimated cost to rebuild the Shoreside Docks is 2.5 million dollars. AMVETS Hawaii is committed to the rebuilding efforts and will assist in raising funds to support our National Commander’s Signature Project.

The Shoreside Docks allow the Navy to launch boats to the USS Arizona Memorial, a key attraction for many visitors to the island. We are looking forward to partnering with Pacific Historic Parks and other agencies to achieve this goal.

Pacific Historic Parks:

The #USSArizona Memorial was designed by Honolulu architect, Alfred Preis, and build in 1962. It was built to span over, not touching, the sunken USS Arizona, to honor the memory of the crew of the USS Arizona as well as other service members and civilians killed in that attach on Pearl Harbor.

The previous access dock was abandoned in 1980 when the #ShoresideDock was built. #ShoresideDock is currently the only means of access for all boats that provide transport out into the harbor. Time, wear and the elements have taken their toll, and the dock urgently needs to be replaced.

Please consider donating to #ShoresideDock this #GivingTuesday, every dollar donated is matched up to $25,000 thanks to a generous Friend. Make your #GivingTuesday donation go twice as far this year, and help visitors, friends and veterans from around the world continue to feel the beauty, power and sorrow of this hallowed place.

LEARN MORE about #GivingTuesday at Pacific Historic Parks: https://pacifichistoricparks.org/shoresidedock

Since World War II, AMVETS shoulders the responsibility to see to it that the United States never forgets those who served and died at Pearl Harbor. Realizing that freedom is best protected through strength, we will continue to stand firm on national defense issues.

Black tears of oil still seep up from the submerged tomb of the 1177 sailors and Marines that perished in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. These are constant reminders of this defining moment of WWII that propelled America into global conflict and forever changed the course of world history.

During the hour-and-fifty minute raid on Pearl Harbor, nearly 2,400 American servicemen died and approximately 1,170 were wounded. Eighteen ships lay sunken or badly damaged and close to 350 planes were put out of commission. The USS Arizona, one of seven battleships moored along Battleship Row was the most seriously devastated. Taking several hits from large, armor-piercing bombs, the great ship went down in less than nine minutes. As the President spoke to Congress, asking them to declare war on Japan, sailors were cutting through the still burning wreckage of the USS Arizona attempting to save others who were trapped inside the ship. The last survivor from the Arizona was pulled from the wreckage that afternoon.

The loss of life that day wasn’t restricted only to military personnel, or even to Pearl Harbor. Forty nine civilians of very different backgrounds, ages, and locations on the island of Oahu also took a heavy toll.

AMVETS is committed to ensuring that December 7, 1941, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared “A date which will live in infamy,” will always be remembered and preserved through the USS Arizona Memorial and the Wall of Remembrance. In the 1950’s, AMVETS helped secure the final required funding of $250,000 for the memorial. The Wall of Remembrance is a permanent memorial with all the names inscribed in marble panels, began to deteriorate over many years, making them hard or impossible to read. In 1983, AMVETS replaced the Wall of Remembrance, which was rededicated in 1984 and later on Veterans Day 2014.

For many Americans, the bombing of Pearl Harbor on that ordinary Sunday morning marked a change in the world as they knew it. The attack united us as people and strengthened our resolve to ultimately prevail over the forces of aggression. The vicious and unprovoked terrorist attacks of September 11 also served to remind us yet again that we still face challenges to our freedom, and we must be vigilant in defending liberty. Our country will not tolerate those who jeopardize our very way of life.

The upsurge in American patriotism in response to the terrorist attacks — much like the response to the attack on Pearl Harbor gives us much reason for hope.

As our country fights to eliminate international terrorism and bring those responsible for the attacks to justice, America’s veterans know — perhaps better than most — the sacrifices that must be made until victory is achieved.

AMVETS, which had its beginnings in 1944, near the end of World War II

Nine World War II veterans clubs, met in Kansas City, Mo., and founded The American Veterans of World War II on Dec. 10, 1944. Less than three years later, on July 23, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed Public Law 216, making AMVETS the first World War II organization to be chartered by Congress. Since then, the original charter has been amended several times to admit as members those who served in different eras. On 16 October 2002 the 107th Congress enacted Public Law 107-241 (H.R. 3214), an Act to amend the Charter of the AMVETS organization to “AMVETS (American Veterans)”. Today, membership in AMVETS is open to anyone who is currently serving, or who has honorably served, in the U.S. Armed Forces from World War II to the present, to include the National Guard and Reserves.

American Veterans (AmVets) Hawaii is an All-volunteer, Veterans Service Organization (VSO), https://amvets-hawaii.org.