For those who do not know the history of Elvis and the U.S.S. Arizona memorial I like to refer you to the 1961 memorial section on this site (please select the button on the menu below).

Charlie told me that the Memorial was finished in 1962. At the time the U.S. Navy honored Elvis and everyone else connected with the fund raising with a huge proclamaition hung on the Memorial. The proclamation remained on the Memorial till 1980. That year the management was handed over to the National Park Service. They removed the proclamation without a clear explanation.
When asked the National Park Service would tell fans and/or visitors:
- the salt air is damaging the proclamation
- only the names of the war dead could be placed on the Memorial

A at one time they even came up with a statement saying Elvis did not want recognition. Elvis however had stated some time he was very proud of what he had done for the fund raising.

Now, finally afters years of writing letters and petitions by Charlie and her Elvis fan club, the National Park Service has placed a mention of Elvis' contribution to the fund raising inside the "museum".
However the information placed there is still inaccurate -stating it was 3 years after the Commision started fund raising that Elvis did his benefit concert, actually it was 10 years! -

The question remains what has happened with the original proclamation that once hung on the Memorial.

Charlie about her work for getting recognition to Elvis,says: " I know Elvis would be very humbled to know that his fans worked for 23 years to do this, and I am so proud that, with all your help, I was able to complete this crusade and find success for Elvis for the recognition he truly deserves".

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Please become a member of the
Elvis Memorial Fan Club Hawaii

Charlie Ross
Elvis Memorial Fan Club Hawaii
P.O. Box 11295
Honolulu, HI., 96828

email: elmemh@earthlink.net

Annual membership fee is $ 10,- for the U.S.A.
and $12,50 for the rest of the world.