Today, December 7, is a day meaningful to the generation that preceded mine - the generation that is sometimes called "The Greatest Generation".
My parents were a member of that generation, After 1941, December 7 was never a date on the calendar to them, ever again. I grew up quite conscious of Pearl Harbor and its importance in our history.
Pearl Harbor Day was the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in
Hawaii, which was not yet one of the 50 United States. Japan declared
war on the United States shortly after the attack. The United States
declared war on Japan the next day, and Germany declared war on the
United States three days later.
Now, it is 2021, and the number of veterans of World War II shrinks daily. In the past few days, we have lost two famous WWII vets- Senator Bob Dole (dead at 98) died Sunday. The last surviving officer of Easy Company (the Band of Brothers), Edward Shames, died Friday at age 99.
Dole wanted to be a surgeon. His war injuries prevented that, and his life went in a different direction. Shames, a Jewish war veteran, entered the Dachau concentration camp days after its liberation. He was the next to last surviving member of the Band of Brothers.
Now, the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, December 7, 1941. About 30 veterans of the attack and 100 other veterans will be at the site today to pay tribute.
We remember Pearl Harbor today.
Once again, there will be a memorial parade in the state of Hawaii.
It's a sadness as I see the generation that raised me dwindle as they depart our world. Of some 16 million vets, about 240,000 remain. There is no firm number I can find of survivors of Pearl Harbor, but we all know the number is dwindling. Here's what I blogged in 2019.
We must never forgot our history. Without knowing what has come before, we don't know the consequences of what happens today. We can not make good decisions about what is happening now. Not just on December 7, but every day.
No matter what country you live in, dear reader, please take a moment and reflect on your personal history. And hope that, one day, our world can finally achieve peace. Until then, may we remember the sacrifices of the troops who defend us from our enemies.
May their memories not die with them.
...my father enlisted in the SeaBees after Pearl Harbor Day.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been to the memorial yet but plan to go one day. Carol C.
ReplyDeleteMy father also served in WW II. My mother, now age 89, was still a child during the war.
ReplyDeleteI think of the armies that would have marched right over us if not for that line of young men (and women) who stood between and kept it from happening. Who sacrificed everything to do so. And now more and more of them are finally finishing their life's work and slipping through the veil. May they find the reward they so thoroughly deserve!
ReplyDeleteAnd may we remember their sacrifice and use it for something good!!!
If you're ever in Hawaii, the Arizona Memorial is a must-see.
ReplyDeleteMy dad fought in WWII in Africa and Italy. Army Air Force. He got to go on the Honor Flight before he died at 90.
ReplyDeleteMy SIL's grandfather survived Pearl Harbor. Sadly, he passed more than a decade ago.
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