Pearl Harbor Reflections

To all of our wonderful ladies,

I am finding it difficult to choose the words to express the gratitude Maxine and I have for you as we reflect on the incredible journey we completed together in Hawaii.  After over two years of planning and dreaming, everything came together on December 5^th as we began our adventure.  And adventure, it surely was in so many ways!
Our first (and only) rehearsal with almost all of us finally together that evening was so very exciting.  (Thank goodness that Sherry and Randy arrived safely after huge delays!)  Heps, our guide for the event, was blown away when he heard us for the first time.

Have you ever seen SO much rain falling!  I was so thankful that we were not scheduled to sing anywhere on Monday.  I was also thankful that we were on high enough floors at the Hyatt that should the flooding come through, we would be high enough to be safe!! 

 We woke to cloudy skies and the rains were still predicted for Tuesday, but our prayers were answered and by “showtime”, the rains had moved on and we were blessed with good weather.  What a relief!  We had the distinct honor of performing during the opening ceremony, honoring the veterans in attendance and those who were serving in 1941 on that, the actual 80^th anniversary and day of remembrance.  For me, that was
a very humbling performance and one I’ll never forget. 

What can we say about the parade experience?  Talking with Heps on our way to the beginning of the parade lineup, he mentioned that we needed to be on a trolley so we could all be together to participate.  He went ahead and “commandeered” our trolley and became our hero, in my eyes.  What an incredible experience that turned out to be!  We’d never been able to successfully march and sing in the parade as it had been planned.  It was awesome to sing our patriotic songs to those along the parade route surrounded front and back by the veterans and the enthusiastic crowd on each side!  Again, the pictures that scroll through my memory of that time will be long remembered.  And weren’t we happy when we had the shuttle to return us to the hotel?!

Wednesday arrived and found us finally getting to visit Pearl Harbor and give our tribute concert.  Visiting the Arizona Memorial was a sobering experience as we paid honor to those men (and all who gave their lives for our freedom during WWII).  Looking out on the serene and peaceful setting of the harbor, then hearing the rumble of the guns being fired in tribute from the newly commissioned destroyer, gave me pause.  I couldn’t begin to wrap my mind around how different it was from that fateful day in 1941.  When we performed our concert, in my mind, we could not have had a more fitting setting than the flag flying at half-mast behind us during a beautiful sunny and blue-skied day, as we honored those who had served.  We should all have been proud of our performance, as we represented our chorus(es), ourselves, and Sweet Adelines with dignity.  This, too, will be among our most treasured Sweet Adeline experiences.

Did we not end our tour with the most fun evening ever as we attended the luau and met Mo, our luau tour guide, on the bus?  With the luau being canceled on Monday due to the rain and being disappointed, to having a great celebration together on Wednesday night, how could there have been a more fitting farewell experience together?  It was absolutely the best time laughing and singing together.  Mo was so much fun and loved us to bits saying, “I’m supposed to be entertaining you and you’re entertaining me instead!”  Again, more precious experiences to put in our memory baskets.

And in closing, how can I thank each of you enough for sharing this amazing experience with Maxine and me?  While we had some “speed bumps” and unplanned and unexpected changes of schedule along the way, you showed your grace and dedication through each one and supported us with smiles and positive attitudes.  Would we go again if invited, you bet we would!

With hugs, we say a heartfelt aloha and mahalo,
Stefanie and Maxine