7, 1941, should not be forgotten by any single man or women so long as we live, so shall they live on.On December 8, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared: “Yesterday, Decem– (is) a date which will live in infamy.” Of course he was talking about the Japanese surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, the attack that catapulted the United States into the Second World War 70 years ago.Ĭatapulted is right, because beforehand, the clear majority of Americans did not want to see their husbands, fathers and sons embroiled in another war on a distant continent. Whether or not at Pearl Harbor, in an armed conflict or even a service member, the memory of Dec. “We must never forget Pearl Harbor.”Īs the service drew to a close and the scores of veterans prepared to take their leave, many cast a thoughtful gaze upon the solemn wreath some remembering where they were when the Japanese planes broke the horizon while others recounted their own war milestones. “We can never forget what happened and we must always remain vigilant,” said McGee.
The announcer described, as it was walked down the aisle, that the wreath was in honor and undying remembrance of those men and women who perished in the attack 69 years ago. “And though we were 6,000 miles from Pearl Harbor, it had a scary reverberation across the country as if the distance didn’t matter.”Īs McGee stepped down, a wreath was lifted by two American Legion members. “I was four and a half years old and listening to the Green Hornet on the radio when Roosevelt interrupted the program and told the country what had just happened,” said McGee. Richard McGee, then took the podium to speak about his experience during that fateful day. The memorial services opened with the Rolling Thunder’s presentation of the prisoner of war/missing in action table ceremony followed by the song “God Bless America” sung by the Jacksonville High School choir. Yet even if someone’s family wasn’t involved, they should still remember what drove us into one of the most major events in American history.” “My grandfather died in that attack, so its remembrance is something near and dear to my heart. “All the veteran organizations conduct their own separate ceremonies, but on this day they all come together as one group,” said Roy Oldhan, 2nd vice-commander of the American Legion post. Veterans from their respective organizations came out in droves for the service, representing the American Legion, Rolling Thunder, Marine Corps League, Women Marine Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Military Order of the Purple Heart. “It’s where all the vets in the community can come together and honor those who were lost and who survived that day.” “Today is all about respecting and remembering what our forefathers did for this country,” said Paul Levesque, president of Rolling Thunder chapter NC-5 motorcycle club.
This year it was held at the American Legion Burton-Cowell Post 265 building in Jacksonville, N.C. 7 has since been recognized as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, a day that brings all the Department of Defense veterans of the various Onslow County veterans organizations together for the annual Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Service.
Roosevelt, marked the United States’ entrance into World War II after elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy launched an airborne attack against Naval Base Pearl Harbor.ĭec. 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy,” as stated by President Franklin D. The mission: Attack and deter the enemy with 353 airplanes. Pacific Fleet from interfering with any future operations in Southeast Asia.