Last night at the USS Arizona Memorial Museum and Visitors center, the nine remaining USS Arizona survivors gathered for the unveiling of a new model of the ship on which they served on the Day that Lives in Infamy, December 7th, 1941. The USS Arizona is considered our nation’s most famous historical reminder of December 7, 1941.

The model of the Arizona was constructed by world-renowned model builder Donald Preul of J&D Productions of Annapolis, Maryland. It sets a standard both historically and technically, making it the most accurate replica of the USS Arizona battleship anywhere.

“We are taking a moment of history and creating a three-dimensional representation that will be shared for many years to come with people from all around the world,” said model-builder Preul.

The project was funded through a generous grant from the Starr Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting important educational projects nationwide. The grant was secured by the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund. The organization plans to make the model the centerpiece of a new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitors Center.

George Sullivan, board member of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund said that he hopes “this impressive new exhibit will inspire future gifts toward the creation of a new Museum & Visitors Center like the one The Starr Foundation was so generous to provide for this model.”

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund is seeking $50 million dollars to complete a new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum & Visitors Center to replace the current facility, which is sinking, inadequate, and outdated. It will soon be unusable.

The new replica features corrections and additions compared to the current USS Arizona battleship model that has been on display in the Memorial Museum and Visitors Center since 1967.

The unveiling was hosted by Admiral Thomas Fargo, board member of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund and noted historian and author, Daniel Martinez, with the National Park Service.