Donations to Improve Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitors Center

Donations to Improve PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL VISITORS CENTER

B y : J i m M c C o y , D i r e c t o r o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , Pacific Historic Parks

As a non-profit 501 (c) (3), Pacific Historic Parks, relies on donors to support us in the mission to Remember, Honor and Understand World War II in the Pacific.

In this issue we profile two organizations, AMVETS and The Elks who raised money to improve and modernize the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

AMVETS, a congressionally charted veterans service organization, has a proud history in its support of the USS Arizona Memorial. AMVETS is responsible for the upkeep of the Shrine Room Wall, which lists the names of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on the battleship on December 7, 1941

In the 1980’s and again in 2014 AMVETS raised the funds to repair and replace the deteriorating wall.

This past year AMVETS donated $65,000 to Pacific Historic Parks in support of repairs to the shoreside dock at Pearl Harbor.

Past AMVETS National Commander and Army veteran Rege Riley presented the check during PHP’s 40 th anniversary event.

The event was attended by Governor David Ige and First Lady Dawn Ige, flag officers and host of other dignitaries. That evening’s keynote speaker was Retired Navy Capt. Isaac “Cappy” Kidd III, whose grandfather, Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, was one of the USS Arizona crewmembers killed on December 7, 1941

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, also known simply as The Elks, is a strongly patriotic fraternal order founded in 1868. It now has close to 800,000 members and a network of 2,000 lodges spread across the country.

In 2019 during President Mike Luhr's visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, he observed the need for additional support to Pacific Historic Parks to help restore and modernize the visitor center. At the 2019 Elks National Convention in St. Louis, Luhr issued a challenge to the membership. “Our order has a long history of supporting ideas and values that are part of our history; we contributed to the rebuilding of the USS Constitution, we contributed to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and now we are coming together for his important cause,” Luhr said.

In 2020, the Elks presented two checks totaling $250,000 to Pacific Historic Parks

“The Elks for over 150 years have been deeply committed to the interests of our military and our veterans,” Elks President Robert Duitsam said. “There was a need for our help and so thousands of Elks across the country stepped forward.”

The donations will help build a state-ofthe- art digital donor wall at the Visitor Center, and support other projects including Virtual Realty programs showcasing the USS Arizona.