120604-N-XD424-012 PEARL HARBOR (June 4, 2012) Sailors and a Marine stand by Arizona Memorial-dedicated wreaths during a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The ceremony was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dustin W. Sisco/Released)
Arizona Memorial Hosts Battle Of Midway Wreath-Laying Ceremony
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dustin W. Sisco, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, service members and civilians attended a wreath-laying ceremony on the Arizona Memorial on board Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
The ceremony featured parading of the colors from the Navy and Marine Corps Color Guard and a singing of the national anthem and Hawaii Ponoi from Amanda Carona, historian for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, as well as a flyover from an SNJ-5B vintage aircraft.
"It is a great privilege for me to join you to honor those who fought at the Battle of Midway 70 years ago today," said Rear Adm. James Caldwell, guest speaker and commander, Submarine Forces and U.S. Pacific Fleet. "Today, we reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments of one of America's greatest generations; those brave men and women that served our country in a time of war."
The ceremony was held on the Arizona Memorial as recognition for the starting place of the Pacific War.
"It is fitting because this is the place where our nation was thrust in to war," Caldwell said. "It is also a place where the American fighting spirit was reaffirmed, as it has been many times in our history.
The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War, crippling Japan's ability to launch further large-scale attacks against the Allied Forces.
"So we continue to serve this great nation. We must pick up the mantle and remember the importance of their service and their sacrifices," said Caldwell.
The wreaths were dedicated from U.S. Pacific Fleet, Marine Forces Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Capt. Sal Aguilera, chaplain of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific said, "Knowing that understanding our past will empower us to overcome future challenges, we now rightly commemorate this great naval battle."
APPENDAGE
FROM: NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
The Battle of Midway, fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway, is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. Before this battle the Japanese were on the offensive, capturing territory throughout Asia and the Pacific. By their attack, the Japanese had planned to capture Midway to use as an advance base, as well as to entrap and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Because of communication intelligence successes, the U.S. Pacific Fleet surprised the Japanese forces, sinking the four Japanese carriers, that had attacked Pearl Harbor only six months before, while only losing of one carrier. After Midway, the Americans and their Allies took the offensive in the Pacific.
Source: Naval History and Heritage Command
