What is The Pearl Harbor Survivors Project?
The Pearl Harbor Survivors Project pays a debt of gratitude to the Pearl Harbor survivors by creating a community to share and immortalize their stories. The initiative remembers the survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941 themselves, as well as the freedom they preserved. It seeks to engage the next generation of Americans who benefit even today from these efforts. By participating, Americans are shaping history. Each person who contributes is deciding how America will commemorate the end of an era and how we will remember the sacrifice at Pearl Harbor.
Why will this year be the last official meeting of Pearl Harbor survivors?
The youngest of the living Pearl Harbor survivors, those who were in their teen and early 20's in 1941, are now in their early-to-mid 80's. Given the age of survivors and their limited ability to travel, the 65th anniversary will mark the last planned Survivors Summit, a reunion of survivors in Hawaii.
Why is it important to share survivor stories?
With each passing year, the voices of Pearl Harbor survivors become fewer and fewer. Thousands of Pearl Harbor survivors have already passed away. We must share these stories with the future generations now so they can remember, understand and honor Pearl Harbor.
Why do you ask me what ship my survivor served on?
Sadly, we only know who gave their life in the Harbor and where they served on December 7, 1941. Through the Pearl Harbor Survivors Project, visitors to the Web site can not only share their loved ones' stories, but can play an active role in telling the world who lived to fight on. By sharing their stories, survivors' loved ones can help us rebuild the crew rosters of the ships docked in the Harbor that day; identify the civilian heroes and remember all the military personnel that came from land to sea to aid those in need.
How can I share my story?
Sharing your story is easy. You can write your account on the Pearl Harbor Survivors Project site, upload pictures and add audio files. Stories and memorabilia will be compiled and housed at our living history Web site, www.pearlharborstories.org.
Will my story be edited once it is placed on the Web site?
The Pearl Harbor Survivors Project will strive to maintain the integrity of the postings to the site, but we do reserve the right to edit stories that contain content that may be deemed inappropriate or offensive.
Will all submitted stories be accepted?
Yes. The goal of The Pearl Harbor Survivors Project is to capture as many stories as possible. If the story is factually accurate and is, what we believe to be, a story submitted by a friend or loved one of a survivor, it will be available to visitors on the Web site.
Will the site be taken down after the 65th anniversary?
It is our hope that we will be able to maintain this site for years to come. However, the sites' future is directly tied to our ability to secure adequate funding to maintain and house it.
You have a section that says "Make a Donation." What am I donating to?
In addition to sponsoring The Pearl Harbor Survivors Project, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund is responsible for raising funds from public and private sources to build a new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitor Center adjacent to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. The current center is in disrepair and may sink into the Harbor in as few as four years! Donations made on this site support the creation of the new visitors center.
I don't have a scanner at home, how do I upload photos or letters?
The most important thing is that you share your story with the Pearl Harbor Survivors Project! Once you've done so, you may want to call a local drug store to see if they have photo sharing capabilities in store. Often, they can help you scan photos to disk which can then be uploaded to the site. Local photocopy stores usually have this equipment as well.
I am having problems uploading photos, saving stories, etc. What do I do?
For technical problems, please fill out our contact us form. We will do our best to respond to your question in a timely manner.
