Oxford High School is marking the Pearl Harbor attack anniversary with a unique and poignant tribute. On school grounds, 3,500 flags are arranged to form the shape of the USS Arizona at half the ship’s actual size, with each flag representing individuals either killed or injured in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that propelled the United States into World War II.

A collaboration between librarian Amanda Osborne and history teacher Stella Lindsey initially inspired this student-led endeavor. The project soon drew widespread support, involving students from various classes, including Government, Yearbook, College & Career Readiness, and Leadership. Together, they worked to create a vivid, living representation of a pivotal moment in American history.

The flag arrangement stands as a powerful visual reminder of the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously declared would live in “infamy.” The surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which lasted just under two hours, inflicted severe damage to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, changing the course of World War II and American history. The national response to this event led to the establishment of Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, a day dedicated to honoring and remembering those who suffered and sacrificed on that day.