Midway memorials (updated)
June 4th, 2009 | Aviation Carriers Historical | Posted by Phil Ewing
Navy History and Heritage Command
Thursday is the 67th anniversary of the world-changing Battle of Midway, in which Japanese complacency and American luck shattered the ability of the Imperial Japanese Navy to ever retake the initiative in its campaign across the Pacific. It was the first sea battle in which neither of the combatant fleets saw the other, and marked the beginning of the end for big-gun battleships as the centerpiece of fleets; Midway gave us the age of the carrier.
There are Midway commemorations all day online and in physical places around the country — we know about a few, but please tip us off in the comments if there’s a Midway ceremony near you.
If you’re up in Boston, sailors from the USS Constitution will be observing the anniversary of the battle aboard USS Cassin Young, itself a WWII veteran, at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
Here in the National Capitol Region, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and other luminaries — including Midway veterans — will be marking the occasion at the U.S. Navy Memorial.
How are you remembering the battle?
Update: The Naval Institute blog has a memorial/event roundup here.
H/T: Maggie