I’m going to take us back to Memphis so I can talk about Elvis. Most of us know Elvis was in the military. Elvis did not shirk his duty even though he was famous. We also know Elvis made a few movies where he played a character who was in the military. But did you know Elvis played a key role in the early stages of the creation of the USS Arizona memorial? The Arizona was sunk in Pearl Harbor Hawaii on December 7, 1941 by the Japanese. In the early 1960’s a memorial at the Arizona was being discussed and some money had been raised but more money was needed. Elvis stepped up and held a benefit concert. He donated his fee, he brought in another headliner (Minnie Pearl) and every penny went to the memorial fund. Elvis was so serious about this fundraiser, he bought his own ticket to his show. The USS Arizona Memorial was finally created where 1177 officers and crewmen remain to this day. Have you been? Have you been to see the USS Missouri? The Missouri is near the Arizona in Pearl Harbor and it is the ship where the Japanese surrender was signed. The US has retired many ships and we are fortunate enough to be able to visit them. I’ve been to the Arizona memorial with my son when he was young. I talked to my son about the sacrifice those 1177 men made for me and for him. We went to the USS Missouri that same day and talked more about duty, sacrifice and respect. When you go to see a ship like those or the USS Alabama, there are many things to see. You can see the beauty of the design. Of course the outside is obvious and formidable, but the inside is elegant in a practical way. Underneath that hard exterior is a place where our sailors have to live and work. And so the Navy makes the ship as comfortable as possible. There are the basics like bunks, bathrooms and kitchen; and then there are the amenities. On the Alabama, as in many of the ships, there is a barbershop, a soda fountain (where different flavored sodas were mixed by hand), ping pong and a store. Our country and armed forces have always strived to make a difficult situation for our military people, not so difficult. War is hell and our freedom has been very expensive throughout the short time we have been a country, that is why I encourage you to go to one of our ships or a national cemetery. Go on that ship and experience the majesty and power and then go in the ship and feel how human it is. Take your child, as I have, and walk through that cemetery where all the headstones are the same shape and in such order. Explain to your son or daughter why we have “gardens of stone” and what that means for us now and for their future. Don’t be for it or against it, just go be in it.