 We're here today to honor the crew of the proud ship USS Utah For years in keeping with the wishes of the USS Utah survivors This very simple yet elegant ceremony has been held at sunset on the eve before the day of the attack on December 7th typifying the Navy's bedrock principles of honor courage and commitment Those sailors of the USS Utah Without ceremony and most without recognition did their duty under the most severe conditions For 58 of them it was their final duty Today during this beautiful Hawaiian sunset. We remember and honor them USS Utah was commissioned in August of 1911 on the same day as her whole number 31 She served with honor in the Atlantic during the First World War on both sides the battle flip the flag ship of battleship division one Following the war she conducted a variety of wartime readiness and peacetime missions on both sides of the Atlantic and South America In 1931 she was converted to a target vessel Where she helped train Navy pilots as a realistic target for exercises Involved involving carrier-based aviation units Later in the 30s. She became an anti-aircraft gunnery training platform Serving in the US Pacific fleet in the Hawaiian area. She became operational in 1941 On the morning of December 7th, 1941. She took multiple torpedo hits that caused her to capsize In much the same position that you see her today This afternoon we remember the 58 crew members who died on this proud ship At this time, I'd like to welcome Tom Leatherman the superintendent of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Mr. Leatherman has been working for the Department of the Interior for more than 34 years starting as a biological science intern in a 1989 while still in college Before moving to Hawaii, Mr. Leatherman served as superintendent at four National Park Historic Sites in the San Francisco Bay Area Including Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and Rosie the Riveter World War II home front National Historic Park In October of 2021 he arrived here on Oahu as the permanent superintendent of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome. Mr. Tom Leatherman Good afternoon everyone on behalf of the National Park Service. Welcome to the USS Utah Memorial but this this Memorial here was originally commissioned by the Navy and constructed and in 2008 the National Park Service assumed responsibility of managing the Condition of the Memorial as well as visitation But it was until about two years ago that we actually were able to start bringing people out to visit this site And to learn about this history directly And I'm committed to continuing that effort and bringing more people out here every we do it three times a week now and I think that it's really it's really our responsibility and our Our commitment to honoring those who lost their lives here to make sure that we provide an opportunity for people to come out here to experience the the the memorial itself and to pay their respects And I I have to say personally This is one of one of the The more moving memorials for me and in particular There's a quote that's on this memorial And if you when you get a chance, I would encourage you to go and see the quote And because it to me it represents Really the the the whole purpose of why we do memorials and why we Why we are here to honor those who lost their lives And it's a quote by frank moss who was the united states senator from utah and it was This quote was delivered During the groundbreaking in 1971 on december 7th when this was when they started the construction While we honor those Who here gave their last full measure of devotion? All of us hope and pray That the time will come When we no longer need to dedicate memorials to men who died in battle That we will dedicate memorials to those who live in peace To all nations and all men Thank you for coming today And um I appreciate all the the participation. I've this is the lot. I've been here for this is my third Um event and I'm I'm I'm actually very moved by the number of people that are participating in this event this year So I really appreciate you coming. Thank you, mr. Leatherman Now we'd like to remember the 58 crew members who perished aboard uss utah In keeping with this year's 82nd anniversary theme And passing on of a legacy of hope to the next generation Cadets nevea woods and audrey kane of the highland high school junior rotc unit from sparta, ohio Will read the names of each crew member lost aboard uss utah the morning of december 7th 1941 Stan syndrity the chief interpretive ranger with the pearl harbor national memorial will ring the bell after each name is called seaman second class william d r buckle fireman third class joseph barda lieutenant commander Rudolph p by elka seaman first class Virgil c bigum lieutenant junior grade john e black fireman first class john t blackburn seaman second class palace f brown fireman third class william f bruner officer cook second class feliciano t gugheran seaman second class george v chestnut junior seaman second class Lloyd d clippard fireman first class joseph u connor fireman first class john r crane seaman first class david l crossett fireman second class billy r davis seaman second class leroy denis signalman first class douglas r rakeoff seaman second class william h dozer seaman first class vernon j eidersbig quartermaster mevlin a gondre bosan mate kenneth m gift seaman second class charles n gregory lieutenant junior grade herald a harvison seaman second class clifford d hill baker second class emory howd ensign david w jackson seaman first class leroy h jones ships cook second class william a judas yeoman third class john l caylin gunners mate third class eric t campmire fireman first class joseph n caroban seaman first class william h kent gunners mate third class george w laru lieutenant junior grade john g little the third seaman second class kenneth l lynch seaman second class william e marshall junior electrician mate rudolf m martinez lieutenant commander charles o michael seaman second class marvin e miller seaman second class donald c norman fireman second class oris n norman electrician's mate second class edwin d odegard chief storekeeper elmer a parker ships cook third class forest h perry seaman first class james w phillips machinist mate first class walter h ponder ship fitter third class frank e reed seaman first class ralph e scott fireman first class henson t schaus machinist mate first class george r smith seaman first class robert d smith seaman second class joseph b sowsley fireman third class jerald v strintz chief water tender peter tomich fireman third class elmer h olrich fireman third class michael w villa fire controlman first class vernard o wetridge fireman first class glenn a white thank you cadets woods and cane and rangers and dritty at this time i'd like to invite lieutenant chris bell to provide the benediction let us pray gracious and eternal father thank you for the opportunity together this evening on the 82nd anniversary of that fateful morning we have taken time to solemnly remember who faithfully served and perished with the uss utah as their names have been read we have once again heard the echoes of sacrifices made by those entombed in this sacred place on this occasion it is appropriate that we recall the words of abraham lincoln who said in another hallowed place the world will little note nor longer remember what we say but it can never forget what they did here indeed as we depart let us never forget those who carried out their duties ultimately fulfilling the principles of honor courage and commitment as they gave the last full measure of devotion for their shipmates families and nation may their legacy continue by your grace to live on in us and future generations as we continue to carry the mantle of freedom and hope in your holy name i pray amen ladies and gentlemen this concludes our ceremony we'd like to thank our reef donors for the beautiful wreaths that you see on display on the memorial pacific historic parks the national park service and the sons and daughters of pearl harbor survivors we invite everyone here to take flower petals from the basket and lay them in the water paying your own personal tribute to the crew of uss utah and all of those who gave their lives on december 7th i invite you to enjoy the peace of the Hawaiian sunset and the promise of a new day it brings check check you can all can start coming up and we'll have the flower petals here and then you can walk out to the memorial