Tag: World War II Veteran

The day Pearl Harbor, a U. S. Naval Base in Hawaii was attacked in a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. This attack devastated Pearl Harbor enormously. The United States lost 2,403 Americans, and 1,178 others were seriously wounded. This strike also produced significant naval and military asset losses some of which included battleships and aircraft. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the major factor that impelled the United States to enter World War II.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that this day would live in ‘infamy.’ This day also noted a significant shift in the global conflict and was a pivotal moment in the History of the United States of America.

Every year on December 7, Pearl Harbor Survivors, veterans, and visitors from all around the world unite together to honour and remember those 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

It was on August 23, 1994 that the United States Congress designated December 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Each year events are held in remembrance at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, concluding with a commemoration ceremony on December 7.

This year marks the 82nd Commemoration of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Events were held at the USS Utah, USS Oklahoma, USS Arizona (the Pearl Harbor National Memorial) as well as many other locations around the country.

Many here as well as myself were not alive yet when this attack took place, however its significance still impacts people tremendously.

As a personal note, a friend I knew in the church I grew up in was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. His name is Stuart Hedley. He was my church’s Sunday School Superintendent, an usher, a much loved father, friend, business man, and a much honoured U.S. Navy Veteran having served during World War II, Korean War, and a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and participated in many Veteran ceremonies including Pearl Harbor National Remembrance Day ceremonies. He amongst the many survivors and those who lost their lives that day will forever be remembered in infamy.

For more information on Stuart Hedley and is remembrance of Pearl Harbor click here.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.