The Freshman Class took a field trip to Ford Island on Apr. 13 to view exhibits and artifacts, exploring and learning about the USS Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum.

Students had guided tours and roamed the two iconic historic sites.

Freshman Ashley Manz said, “They gave us controls and we got to fly planes and watch each other crash and shoot at people. It was a fun time spending time with my friends and getting a hands-on experience to see how it feels to fly a plane in World War II.”

Highlights of the day included exploring the living and working areas of the battleship Missouri, operating the flight simulator, viewing the “Instrument of Surrender,” signed by the Japanese foreign minister and signifying the end of WWII, and many more.

The trip impacted students who realized that they were visiting areas that marked the beginning and end of World War II for America.

Freshman Rissalyn Lat said, “This trip has greatly impacted my knowledge about World War II and how Pearl Harbor was bombed. I am thankful for this experience and I hope that history will not repeat itself.”