7th December, 2015, marks the completion of 74 years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which forced the United States into joining World War II. The attack killed more than 2,000 U.S. sailors, marines and soldiers that day and injured thousands more.
The ceremony began with the playing of a radio news broadcasting 74 years ago, “We were attacked yesterday on Pearl Harbor…”
As part of the 74th anniversary of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on 7th December, the ashes of retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joe Langdell, who died at age 100 in February, has been interred in the ship with full military burial honors.
Mr. Jack Evans, Pearl Harbor survivor, said, “I’m thankful for the experiences that I had in the navy and I’m thankful that I am in pretty good health”.
Following the ceremony, there was a laying of the wreath hosted by different veterans groups in conjunction with Wreaths Across America. A fellow sailor said to him “What’s the red ball in the wing, Bob?” But he comes to the annual ceremony because the attack was a “big thing in my life”.
The theme of this year’s historic commemoration, “Preserving the Memory”, focuses on how we keep the story of the attack on Oahu, Hawaii and World War II, alive for the nation and the world.
Source: AmeriPublications
