President’s Message

PRESIDENT & CEO MESSAGE This edition’s cover story focuses on the historic interment of a USS Arizona sailor who is the last to be laid to rest with shipmates killed 78 years ago.

History. That’s what our nation witnessed during the early evening hours of December 7, 2019, in a special ceremony marking the final interment of a USS Arizona survivor.

Lauren Bruner was laid to rest, joining 43 fellow Arizona survivors who also chose to be interred alongside the majority of the 1,177 Arizona sailors and Marines killed on December 7, 1941. Most of the men killed 78 years ago are entombed in America’s most iconic war grave.

Bruner was one of four remaining USS Arizona survivors. The final three, Lou Conter, Ken Potts and Don Stratton, have chosen to be buried with their families.

So that meant the service aboard the USS Arizona Memorial and interment in the battleship below was the last one.

Sadly, the number of World War II survivors continues to dwindle. During the traditional early morning ceremony marking the 78th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, 34 members of the greatest generation were in attendance. They included USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter, who vowed to make it to next year’s ceremony and the 80th anniversary in 2021, when he will be 100.

Our coverage in this edition also includes an update on a unique program in which wounded veterans are taught to scuba dive and then do research to preserve and manage the USS Arizona. The work was conducted during the week of December 7, coinciding with the Lauren Bruner interment that featured US Army divers who donned original WWII dive suits and vintage helmets as they transported Bruner to his final resting place.

Wounded Veterans in the Parks is in the second year of a three-year pilot funded by donations to Pacific Historic Parks.

We also focus on a new program PHP launched last year as part of an effort to instill peace within communities that were prior mortal enemies. Students from Hawaii joined via live video conference students from Nagasaki, Japan at the first Youth Peace Symposium. The students focused on their personal connections with the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the A Bomb Museum in Nagasaki.

In 2019, some 40,000 students visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and another 13,000 took part in off-site educational programs from our park sites in the Pacific, nationally and internationally.

PHP’s mission is to Remember, Honor and Understand World War II in the Pacific by ensuring that future generations will honor and be inspired by all that occurred at Pearl Harbor and throughout the Pacific.

We thank the donors who make these important programs possible.

AILEEN UTTERDYKE President & CEO

A copy of the latest financial report, registration filed by this organization, and a description of our programs and activities may be obtained by contacting us at: 94-1187 Ka Uka Blvd., Waipahu, HI 96797, (808) 954-8777. Pacific Historic Parks was formed in Hawaii. If you are a resident of one of the following states, you may obtain financial information directly from the state agency:

Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA), OR VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. Florida Registration #CH17306 Georgia: A full and fair description of our programs and our financial statement summary is available upon request at our office and phone number indicated above. Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Pacific Historic Parks may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State's office by calling 1-888-236-6167. Registration by the Secretary of State does not imply endorsement. Nevada: Contributions may be tax deductible pursuant to the provisions of sec. 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. ¤170(c). New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York:Upon request, from the Attorney General Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Pacific Historic Parks may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: From the State Office of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: From the Secretary of State at 1-800-332-4483 or http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/ West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Wisconsin: A financial statement of the charitable organization disclosing assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue and expenses for the preceding fiscal year will be provided to any person upon request. REGISTRATION WITH A STATE AGENCY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THAT STATE. More information about charity state disclosures and charitable solicitation registrations.