Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Clark | Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Cecil Haney and Chester Nimitz Lay, grandson of...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam commemorated the 68th Anniversary of the end of World War II during a ceremony at the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Honolulu, Monday, Sept. 2.
The ceremony was followed by the dedication of a statue honoring Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz.
“It’s an honor to be here to commemorate this 68th anniversary of the ending of World War II and of course to honor the legacy of Fleet Adm. Nimitz,” said keynote speaker Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Sixty-eight years ago, this mighty warship was anchored, as mentioned in Tokyo Bay, and it was on her decks that on the same time of day that the instrument of surrender were signed.”
In addition to the speech by Adm. Haney, Adm. Nimitz’s grandson, Chester Nimitz Lay, and family friend retired U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Lilly addressed the crowd.
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff S. Ruth also sent his regards via video message.
Earlier in the ceremony, several World War II veterans, who were on board the USS Missouri when the surrender took place, were honored. Haney ensured they were properly acknowledged.
“I have also been privileged to talk to veterans and hear their first-hand accounts of these battles and how they fought with tenacity, dignity, honor, courage and commitment,” he said. “Fleet Adm. Nimitz sent these courageous men to these remote and difficult places to fight and win.”
One of these very men, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Art Albert, shared his feelings from that day almost 70 years ago.
“It was a great day, I was only 18 then,” he said. “We were just astounded [by the dignitaries]. I was standing there thinking, ‘isn’t this nice,’ because I knew ‘that was it.’ It made you feel good.”
Following the ceremony marking the anniversary, many dignitaries, including former Secretary of the Navy Gordon England and former Commander U.S. Pacific Command Thomas Fargo, dedicated the statue of Nimitz.
The 9-foot bronze statue will stand along the pier where the USS Missouri (BB 63) is berthed. It reminds visitors of the man who directed the war in the Pacific, commanded the largest ocean area, and led the most ships of any single commander in the history of the world.
| Date Taken: | 09.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.03.2013 06:03 |
| Story ID: | 112983 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 548 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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