Many of us will never visit Pearl Harbor, but recently I had the opportunity to visit the USS Arizona Memorial Garden located in your beautiful city.

This memorial and the story behind it is awe- inspiring and is dedicated to those who died on that “day of infamy.”

When you see the hundreds upon hundreds of solar-powered cylinders — in row after row — stone benches etched with the words said in response to the attack:

“I thought it was a drill.”

“I’ll never see my baby sister.”

“I have only been in the Navy for 6 weeks.”

“We cannot locate you sons ... presumed dead...”

This is duty, honor, courage.

And then — and then — our country pulled together and kicked back — hard. Nobody comes in our backyard.

Every representative from federal to state to city to local should visit this memorial and see this forceful reminder of what our country is all about.

Democracy survived because of these and so many other service members who gave full measure.

It is inspiring.