The USS Arizona was one of 20 ships that were hit by the air attack by the Japanese on Dec. 7^th, 1941.  Unfortunately, the bomb that hit the Arizona went right near the ammunition magazine causing a gigantic explosion and a great loss of life.

Over 1000 men died on the Arizona, while a total of 2400 died in the attack. In the sake of brevity, the U.S.S. Arizona was not totally salvaged.

The bones of those men are still in the ship, now as a lasting Memorial.  You can still see oil—from two to nine quarts a day– seeping from the Arizona.

The men who died on the Arizona are inscribed at the Memorial.  There are 23 sets of brothers who perished as well as a dad and his son.

One of the anchors is at Pearl Harbor museum.  Today, it resides by the South Channel—which makes a superb picture with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial behind it.

Where is the second anchor?  I had no clue until I saw the final episode of “Amazing Race,” circa 2004, that ended in downtown Phoenix next to the other anchor.  We went to see it in downtown Phoenix on a hot June Saturday afternoon in 2004.  You could literally fry an egg on the car.

I can say I have touched both anchors of the U.S.S. Arizona—besides the Liberty Bell, the Acropolis and shook hands with the actor Kurt Russell.

So as I understand it, when I shake your hand: you will have shaken the hand, of the hand, that touched both anchors of the USS Arizona, Liberty Bell, the Acropolis and Kurt Russell (among many other people, artifacts and standing on my head at Four Corners).  It is truly an amazing world we live in.