Featured, Public Program

Speaker Series: Pearl Harbor and Sundown to Eleven

Name: Speaker Series: Pearl Harbor and Sundown to Eleven
Start: 2025-12-07T13:00:00-08:00
End: 2025-12-07T15:00:00-08:00
Location: USS Hornet Museum

December 07, 2025
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
at USS Hornet Museum

Recurring

Please join us in Hangar Bay 3 starting at 1 PM on Sunday, December 7th as we offer 2 impactful historical presentations:

At 1 PM a presentation to Commemorate the anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor: Docent David Nagel will be giving the presentation: At Dawn We Slept, By Dusk We Wept:

Step back to 1941 — a time of swing music, silver screens, and fragile hope. America believed war was oceans away… until the morning that changed everything. Join docent David Nagel aboard the USS Hornet for a powerful lecture exploring Pearl Harbor through the eyes of those who lived it — and discover how a nation asleep at dawn found its courage by dusk.

David F. Nagel is a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as an aircraft mechanic. Following his military service, he built a distinguished career in the aerospace industry, including serving as Production Manager for the Boeing 737 Next Generation and 737 programs. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt, David brings decades of expertise in aerospace operations and educational leadership. He currently serves as an Executive Director at the School For Independent Learners and volunteers as a docent on the USS Hornet. His combined military, industrial, and educational experience offers a unique perspective on the evolving role of aircraft carriers in both historical and modern contexts.

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At 2 pm please join us for the YouTube release of “Sundown to Eleven”. Meet the director for a Q&A and watch it on the big-screen in our hangar bay as it goes live on YouTube. This event is also no additional charge to your normal admission.

Official site: https://www.ElevenTheMovie.com/Sequel

Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/PpDRHoOenkw?si=WBk5PM8e_JXjWWXl

“Sundown to Eleven” follows the epic journey of WWII veteran Richard “Dick” Miralles—last surviving member of the U.S. Navy’s Air Group Eleven—as he sets out on a deeply personal mission: to uncover the fate of a fallen comrade lost over the Pacific in 1944. With the help of a passionate crew of volunteers from the USS Hornet Museum and the support of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Miralles hits the road—part detective, part historian, all heart.

From the hushed corridors of the National Archives to the warm waters of Pearl Harbor, Miralles retraces the steps of his wartime squadron, chasing clues and memories. Along the way, he revisits battle sites, takes to the skies in a Dauntless dive-bomber, and reflects on the cost of service and the power of remembrance—all while nearing his 100th birthday.

Blending the suspense of a cold case with the soul of a cross-country odyssey, “Sundown to Eleven” is a moving tribute to the enduring sacrifice of Gold Star families. Directed by George Retelas, “Sundown to Eleven” is a sequel to his acclaimed 2014 documentary, “Eleven,” which featured the oral history of eleven World War II veterans who flew in the Pacific War with his namesake grandfather.