USS Oklahoma Memorial
The USS Oklahoma Memorial in Oahu is a powerful tribute to the 429 sailors and Marines who lost their lives when the battleship USS Oklahoma capsized during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Wallace Design Collective provided structural engineering services for the USS Oklahoma Memorial. This significant project was dedicated on December 7, 2007, 66 years after the unprovoked assault on Pearl Harbor.
The memorial’s design is deeply rooted in the US Navy tradition of “manning the rails”. This ceremonial practice involves the ship’s crew lining the deck, standing at attention in their dress white uniforms, as their vessel returns home to port after deployment.
In keeping with this tradition, the memorial features 429 towering, seven-foot-tall white granite standards. Each is engraved with the name and rank of a lost warrior. These standards powerfully symbolize the sailors and Marines, clad in dress whites, coming home for the final time. The underlying gray/black granite that forms the foundation of the memorial represents the immense hull of the USS Oklahoma. This stark contrast further emphasizes the human element of the sacrifice.
The standards are deliberately spaced shoulder-width apart and arranged in rows, creating an immersive experience for visitors who are invited to walk among them. This intimate arrangement fosters a sense of personal connection to the fallen, allowing for quiet reflection and a deeper understanding of the immense human cost of the attack.
©Brett Drury Architectural Photography
