Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, Dec. 6, 2019

High Desert Hangar Stories
Wreaths Across America: Honoring our fallen heroes

by Bob Alvis national anthem as the colors were raised
special to Aerotech News on the USS Arizona the next morning.
So, with the good times on shore leaving
For quite a few years now, I have a sweet afterglow, the sailors returned to
been a supporter of the Wreaths Across their ship for the last time — not know-
America program at Lancaster Cemetery. ing that in the morning, their combat
I always find it a rewarding experience skills would be called upon and their
to take the time to honor our nation’s instruments of music would be silenced
veterans in such a spiritual way with our forever.
local citizens. As the band formed on deck that morn-
Many times, people question the need ing, they never got the chance to play one
to place a wreath on a departed soldier’s note, as the unfolding drama around them
grave, when so many living veterans are at 7:55 a.m. had battle stations being
in need of some outreach themselves. called. Instruments were abandoned on
My response to those people is that we the run and the combat tasks of manning
have resources to make sure we have and supplying USS Arizona’s gun turret
programs to honor our service men and number two became their main focus, as
women, living and departed. they transferred munitions and powder to
Being the week of Dec. 7, I was look- the gun turret. As the war raged around
ing for a connection between a simple them, little did they know that they were
commemorative wreath and the story at ground zero for the catastrophic event

Courtesy photograph
Dec. 6, 1941: The band from the USS Arizona played to the delight of those gathered on shore. They were all lost in
battle the next morning.
gathering of young men known as Navy ture of leaving some flowers, a note or Lancaster Cemetery.
Band No. 22 will go down in history as a wreath at the grave site of a soldier, When Navy ships leave the port at
the boys that played music to the youth sailor, airman or Marine. Sure, we do Pearl Harbor, their crews man the decks
of America and the next morning helped it in their memory and to give thanks, and pay tribute to the lost souls of the
usher American youth into its loss of in- but we also do it to teach. Future gen- USS Arizona. In the cool of a December
nocence. erations will look to traditions for guid- morning you can be a part of that tra-
Today at Pearl Harbor, you can visit ance in the way our nation remembers dition, as we also stand and remember
Courtesy photograph and see the last battle station of Navy its fallen, as well as the families of those those who were lost or served and gave
The USS Arizona’s Gun Turret #2. The final task for Navy Band No. 22, as Band No. 22. Gun turret number two lost. Those left behind will be comforted those precious moments of life that we
they performed their final war time duties, was to supply ammunition and still stands above the water. We remem- in their lonely hours without loved ones,
powder to the gun crews. ber the faces of these young men we see when they see everyday citizens pause humans cherish so much.
on this page and the price they paid for and make a simple gesture that says I will see you at Wreaths Across
the freedoms we enjoy in America today, your loved one matters to all of us, in America at Lancaster Cemetery, and
of some sailors whose lives went from that would define the meaning of Pearl along with their shipmates. They are part the form of a wreath or some flowers am looking forward to sharing my
jubilation to the worst outcome possible Harbor for generations of American of a long line of patriots who came before and the time taken to make the effort last article here for 2019 in just a
in just a little over 12 hours. Sad to think citizens. Gun turret number two would and after their service, and never came and show our respect. On Dec. 14, you couple of weeks.
that many times the role of musicians in be the location where a lucky hit by a home. can be a part of this history and take part Until then, peace my friends
our military is less appreciated, but on Japanese dive bomber would penetrate And this brings me to that simple ges- in our community’s commemoration at — Bob out ...
Dec. 7, 1941, U.S. Navy Band No. 22 the Arizona’s upper decks and find its
would become the very best — not only way to the stored munitions that would The placing of wreaths
in playing the music of the day, but also incinerate the ship. The young smiling at Lancaster Cemetery,
in fighting back. faces from the night before in an instant an observance by
Navy Band No. 22 was better known became just a memory in a picture cap- the community that is
as the USS Arizona Swing Band and on tured at the previous night’s gala. The duplicated around the
Dec. 6, 1941, they were taking part in an dreaded Western Union Man would be world, as citizens place
on-shore jitterbug contest, playing for delivering the news that a beloved fam- wreaths at memorials
dancers and local residents. After a night ily member was never coming home. and cemeteries,
of fun and good times, the young mem- So many lost souls aboard the USS Ari- pas sing on our
cherished traditions of
bers of the band knew that before long zona — every one of them had a special remembering the fallen
they would need to be ready to play the life and story to be shared, but a special during the holidays.

Courtesy photograph
Lancaster Cemetery will host its 2019 Wreaths Across America event Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. To
sponsor a wreath or volunteer to lay wreaths at this year’s event, visit https://www.wreathsacros-
Courtesy photograph samerica.org/ or contact the Lancaster Cemetery office at 661-942-6110.
The names of the fallen from the USS Arizona and, as tradition dictates, the
placing of wreaths to remember their sacrifice.

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