UNDER the waters of what was once called Battleship Row in Pearl Harbour sits what remains of the sunken frame of the USS Arizona, a stark memorial to more than 1,000 men who lost their lives aboard the vessel during the Japanese attack on the naval base on Dec 7, 1941.
Not far away, with its bow facing the memorial as if it is watching over the Arizona so the souls interred there can rest in eternal peace is the USS Missouri on whose decks the Japanese signed the instrument of surrender.
While the Arizona is maintained as a memorial to those who were killed aboard the battleship, the "Mighty Mo" stands as a testament to the end of the greatest conflict the world has ever known. They stand together as a testament to a time where what became known as the Greatest Generation stood up to be counted.
More importantly, at least to us, should be the example these two memorials set. Memorials such as these remind us of our history, and it has to be said that our history is very much part of us. We have memorials of our own, of course, like the Tugu Negara.
But we forget that there are other things from our past which would serve us better if they are kept around. Take the iconic ferries which for many decades transported people and vehicles between the peninsula and Penang island.
Heritage groups and transport associations have called for the ferries to be preserved as a national heritage by turning them into tourist attractions. This Leader agrees. The ferries have served the country for almost 100 years.
We simply cannot phase them out. Nothing lasts forever, of course. Once spare parts are unavailable, it is only a matter of time before things become unusable. The government has ordered that the ferry service be continued as part of the conditions of the budget allocation for Penang Port. This Leader approves. But the ferries are not the only things we need to preserve. This Leader has written numerous times on the importance of preserving our heritage; it will continue to push for it because the character and identity of a nation is moulded and represented by its heritage.
The past tells a story. It gives a country a sense of identity and continuity, especially in today's rapidly changing world.
Take Pudu Prison. Closed in 1996, it was reopened soon after as a museum. There were calls by heritage groups to preserve the facility, but in 2010, it was demolished and today is the site of a billion-ringgit development project.
Thankfully, the façade of at least part of this historic site, notably the gateway, is still preserved. But it is not enough, considering the history of the place.
Sadly, we cannot say the same of the 1929 Bok House mansion in Jalan Ampang owned by millionaire Chua Cheng Bok.
In the 1960s and up until its closure in 2001, the mansion housed an upscale restaurant called the Le Coq d'Or. It was completely demolished in December 2006. More needs to be done. It is not just a method of preserving our heritage.
There are practical reasons as well as these heritage sites can be major tourist attractions and, if marketed correctly, could prove a windfall for all.