After 7 years homeported in Japan & cruising up & down the coast of VN (I was on her the last 2 years), my ship's first stop returning to the 'States was Pearl Harbor. I recall being very moved by the sight of the Arizona Memorial, and spending some time with a book from the ship's library that had a map of who was where in PH on that day. My parents met while employed at Norfolk Navy Yard during the war.
Some may disagree, but IMO that was the day that set the US on the path to becoming the world superpower that it is today.
Jim, former EN2/c, USS Mars '67-'71