Obama visits Pearl Harbor for first time since entering office

President Obama on Thursday evening made his first trip to Pearl Harbor since becoming commander in chief.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama visited the USS Arizona Memorial, where they observed a moment of silence in a room in which the names of crew members who died 70 years ago this month have been inscribed.

Obama, who visited the memorial before he was president in 2008, did not make any remarks at the memorial, according to a pool report. But he and the first lady dropped white and purple orchids into the sunken battleship.

Since the memorial opened, every president has visited the site during his time in office.

Earlier in the day, Obama — who is visiting his native Hawaii over a holiday vacation — stopped for shave ice and spent time at a local beach with his family.

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