SLO veterans museum to unveil new Pearl Harbor artifact as part of exhibit redesign
The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will unveil a newly revised World War II display at its San Luis Obispo facility in December, just in time for the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The exhibit will also add a new artifact to its collection, a piece of the historic USS Arizona, according to a news release.
The artifact came to the San Luis Obispo veterans museum from the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii.
“Receiving a piece of the USS Arizona to display in our museum, is really an honor” Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum President and Director Bart Topham said in the release. “This small, but poignant artifact from the sunken vessel symbolizes a reminder to all Americans of the lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event which led the United States to declare war on Japan and enter World War II.“
According to the release, the USS Arizona still sits where it first sank in Pearl Harbor after being attacked by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941. The sunken ship serves as a memorial and final resting place for the 1,117 U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps service members entombed within the hull.
The newly revised exhibit at the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will also display photos and items honoring veterans from the Pearl Harbor attack and World War II.
The museum will hold a special 45-minute presentation of the display and artifact on Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., according to the release. The museum will open at 4:30 p.m. for museum tours.
The event is open to the public, but reservations are required by filling out a form online at https://form.jotform.com/223061190688154 by Dec. 5.
For more information about the event, email ccvmm.programs@gmail.com.
The Central Coast Veterans Memorial is located at 801 Grand Ave. in San Luis Obispo.
%20Cropped.jpg)