By conducting passing honors to the USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor, what action is being performed?

Conducting passing honors to the USS Arizona memorial involves sounding attention and rendering a hand salute by all persons in view on deck. This practice is a sign of respect and recognition for those who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona memorial commemorates the sailors and marines who perished when the battleship was sunk, and thus, it is customary for military personnel to render honors as they pass by.

The action of rendering a hand salute is a formal military gesture, indicating respect and honoring service members' sacrifices. As the naval vessel approaches the memorial, this salute reinforces the solemnity and reverence associated with the memorial while honoring the memory of those who are entombed there.

The other choices, while they pertain to customs and practices, do not directly describe the specific action of rendering honors as one passes the USS Arizona memorial. For instance, flying the national ensign at half-mast typically signifies mourning but is not performed specifically in passing honors. Similarly, raising the ship's flag and playing the national anthem capture different ceremonial elements that do not focus solely on the action of saluting the memorial.