Inhofe honors USS Oklahoma victims

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe has always been a strong supporter of military members both past and present. Inhofe made that known again when he visited the USS Oklahoma Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

"It was an honor to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in service to their country while on board the USS Oklahoma and to meet more of our veterans and their family members," said Inhofe.

Inhofe, the incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee was on his way to Asia when he stopped in Hawaii for briefings with the leadership of U.S. Pacific Command.  During the stop, he conducted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Oklahoma Memorial.

The memorial is dedicated to the 429 brave men who lost their lives aboard the battleship when it was sunk during the Pearl Harbor attacks on December 7, 1941. The memorial, built in 2000, was officially signed into law as a national memorial entrusted to the National Park Service by President Bush in 2006.

The senator didn’t want to miss the chance to honor those who served on the ship.

“The 429 men aboard the USS Oklahoma were both sailors and Marines who died during the unconscionable attack on our homeland. It is important that this memorial serve as a reminder of the dedication and sacrifices of those who served aboard the Oklahoma. These visits allow our citizens to see first-hand our country’s gratitude for their sacrifices.”

Inhofe is part of a Congressional Delegation tour of Asia.