Tuesday December 6

What a long day! We started out with breakfast at 5:30, then hit the road early to get us through all the traffic and get to the Arizona Memorial first thing in the morning. We had a little time to look through the museum, watched the video about the attack on December 7th, and then all took the launch out to the Memorial. If you haven't been there it's a beautiful but sobering memorial to the men who were killed and entombed in the Arizona when it was sunk. We had arranged for a beautiful wreath of red. white & blue flowers which the color guard presented, followed by a few words and a prayer by Legion Chaplain Scott Peirce, and taps played by our own bugler Ron Geers. What a moving experience!!

We had a rather extended wait to get to the Missouri on Ford Island. Not only was there a problem with the buses, but the bridge was open for a Navy ship to pass through as part of a dry run for the big ceremony there tomorrow there - on the 7th. But we finally made it there OK, and the band had another great performance alongside the Missouri. We had a group photo taken as well, including the band's family members and the tag-along members.

A quick lunch and then a guided tour of the Missouri, and we were on our way to the Tripler Army Medical Center. Another great concert there, although it had started to rain. Not just the usual 90 seconds of very light almost "mist-like" rain, but an actual steady rain, so we played under the canopy to the hospital entrance.

Tripler - it's a coral colored HUGE and varied medical center.

So as people were going into and out of the hospital, they'd stop for a bit to listen. Following the concert, I was told that patients as far away as the 7th floor were able to hear us and had really enjoyed it, and that's what makes it all worth while!!!

Tomorrow to the Pacific Aviation Museum to be a part of the tower dedication ceremony, and also to do a concert there. It's going to be a very special day as the Hawaiian Governor will be giving the primary speech, but more importantly there should be a number of WW II Veterans there celebrating not only Pearl Harbor Day, but the Museum's 5th Anniversary as well. We'll keep you informed!

Aloha

Thom