Arizona Memorial After being closed last week because of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, the Arizona Memorial opened again yesterday, though it was nowhere near business as usual.
reopens amid
tightened security
About 1,350 visitors showed up
yesterday, down from 3,200
before the attackVisitors are asked to not take
containers into the complexBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comPark rangers estimate that a little more than 1,350 Arizona Memorial visitors showed up for a tour yesterday after an average of 3,200 a day the week prior to the attacks.
"I think the problem is that not enough people knew we were going to be open after last week," said park ranger Skip Wheeler.
"People waiting in line for tickets used to take 20 minutes to reach the front desk," said park ranger Naomi Drye. "A month ago it took three hours.
"This is the slowest I've ever seen it."
The memorial also is under a heightened security alert not seen since the Gulf War. Military bomb-sniffing dogs patrol the area while park rangers make sure no outside containers get inside.
"No backpacks, fanny packs, shopping bags, purses, camera bags, bottled water," said Wheeler. "It's pretty tight.
"Wheelchairs are allowed in, though we have to inspect them. But baby strollers have to stay in the lobby."
Some visitors who were not aware of the restrictions and came by bus had nowhere to put their bags.
Some couples chose to have one person wait outside with their belongings while the other took the tour.
Under the circumstances however, people understood.
"In the blink of an eye in world history and thousands of innocent people die," said Michael Kolz, a German broadcast news reporter who found a friend to watch his backpack. "History returns, and again there is this feeling of helplessness."Visitors who made it past security said it was well worth it, and that honoring Dec. 7, 1941, seemed to be even more important after Sept. 11, 2001.
"It's just been so difficult," said South Carolina resident Jeanne Fannin, who could not stop tears from falling while speaking. "We're staying at Schofield Barracks to visit our son; we couldn't leave while this was going on, and we really haven't been able to see him either. At least we were able to come here."
"I just stood in front of that wall with all the names for a while," said Oregon resident Jennifer Scott. "Then you look at the flag, and you're just happy to be an American."
American flag sales from the Arizona Memorial gift shop indicate just how happy some people were. Because the memorial was closed last week, it is one of the only places on the island that has not sold out of the red, white and blue.
Not yet anyway.
"One couple cleaned us out," said cashier Tami Pray. "They bought about 20 flags, then came back half an hour later and bought 20 more."
"Usually we sell about 20 flags a day," said Michelle Richards, another cashier. "This day we sold probably more than a hundred.
"It's been outstanding."
Park rangers are not quite sure how long it will take before visitor numbers are once again up to par. Whatever the case they say it will not be for a lack of patriotism.
"Patriotism is always here," said Wheeler. "I think all it takes is for someone to just look at the Arizona Memorial to see what patriotism is all about."
