U.S.S. ARIZONA - PEARL HARBOR (World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument) (03/1981)

"A Day that will Live in Infamy" The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, located at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, marks the final resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors who lost their lives on the U.S.S. Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by Japanese Naval Forces. This loss of life represents over half of the Americans killed during the worst naval disaster in American history. The attack on Pearl Harbor and the island of O'ahu was the action that led to the United States’ involvement in World War II. The memorial, dedicated in 1962, was built over the remains of the sunken battleship U.S.S. Arizona without touching it. The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial Visitor Center was opened in 1980 and operated by the National Park Service. The sunken remains of the battleship were declared a National Historic Landmark on May 5, 1989.

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Arial photograph of the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

 “To the Memory of the Gallant Men Here Entombed and their shipmates who gave their lives in action on December 7, 1941, on the U.S.S. Arizona" — Inscription in marble with the names of Arizona's honored dead.

 U.S.S. Arizona's Gun Turret Mount

 Jennie, Jewel, and Margaret enjoying their time in Hawaii

[The first and second photos are postcards; I did not take those.]

PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST (10/2010)

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 It is a beautiful drive through the forest, especially in the fall.

 Looking Glass Falls

 Looking Glass Rock

 Looking Glass Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK (11/2010)

Same birds, same gators, same swamp - different day!  I guess because it's in my home state that this is my favorite National Park.  It is definitely the best place to see birds, alligators, and a lot of insects!!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Anhingas are plentiful in this park.

Comorant

This was a nice sighting.

Female Banded Kingfisher.

A shy pair of wood storks.

A roseate spoonbill.

Bunch of vultures.

A nice hawk.

Some type of heron.  (He looked a little messed up!)

Lots of little blue herons, tri-colored herons,

and great blue herons.

A green heron (my favorite!)

The egrets were  plentiful too!

Many, many, lazy alligators!

 These two were up to  no good. They were hunting.

 This one is about to make  his move.

 He creeps up, opens his mouth

 And rolls over and grabs some lunch!

 Belly full and a smile on his face!

 This one was a FATTY!

(He probably said the same about me!)

The bay at Flamingo - the end of the park.

Many, many varieties of insects!

Sorry for the grasshopper porn!

Swamp flowers.

Me having a great day in the National Park!