Older ships (10 ship years and up), take priority within the fleet. They are given the first place at the fueling station and given the option of where they want to spend the night.
Elders
Wisconsin and Missouri had left Hawaii several days earlier. They'd been assigned to Task Force 58 at Ulithi for the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Wisconsin was anxious to reach the island and be useful but Missouri's mind was on Arizona. Wisconsin looked at her sister worriedly.
Missouri had the same blank look on her face that she'd had since they left Hawaii. "Missouri?" Wisconsin asked. Missouri looked at her. "Yes, Wisconsin?" She answered, her tone strangely distant.
"What's wrong sis, this isn't like you?" Wisconsin asked. "Nothing." She said, dropping her gaze. "There's something." Wisconsin persisted. Missouri sighed. "It's Arizona." She said.
"What about her?" Wisconsin asked. "Something she told me, a prophecy." Missouri replied.
"And what was it?" Wisconsin asked, fear entering her voice. Prophecies were almost never good. "With me this war began. With you this war must end." Missouri replied. "Well at least that's optimistic." Wisconsin said, relieved. Missouri smiled sadly. "Yes, but it means that I'll overshadow her. If I'm the one who ends this war, I'll be seen as a symbol of peace, of victory. She's warfare, tragedy, defeat and nobody likes that. Don't you understand? Future generations will ignore her, and it will be all my fault." Missouri moaned.
Wisconsin brushed her bow along Missouri's side. "You can't control what happens?" She whispered. Missouri shook her head. "No, but I can insure that Arizona will never be forgotten." She replied. "How?" Wisconsin asked.
"We should create a memorial. A structure dedicated to all the fallen at Pearl Harbor." Missouri replied. Wisconsin nodded. "Our fallen brethren should not be forgotten. We are here today because of their sacrifice. They should be honored." She declared.
"Our elders have fought so hard." Missouri murmured. "They should take priority within the fleet."
"Amen." Wisconsin murmured and together, the two sisters proceeded to Ulithi, the memories of their ancestors going with them.
Missouri's dream of a memorial came true in 1962 when the Arizona Memorial opened at Pearl Harbor. The white building straddles the ships' hull and attracts over 10 million visitors each year.
