The memorial service Monday to mark the 74th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack will be held at a new site, in a preview of next year’s big event.
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“We didn’t realize we were going to be involved in a war at the time, but that’s what we signed up for, to represent our country”, says Bill Muehleib, a Hampton Roads Pearl Harbor veteran.
Navy Region Hawaii spokeswoman Agnes Tauyan says Monday’s program was running behind, and the Preble didn’t sound its whistle.
“What built the nation was people coming from other locations that said that they can make things better in life, and this was the place to do it”, says Muehleib.
The Japanese air and naval assault on December 7, 1941, a date that U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt said “will live in infamy”, took 2,390 American lives. Fighter jets flew overhead on schedule, but the master of ceremonies was still speaking. He also attended a wreath-dedication ceremony on the USS Arizona Memorial. About 3,000 people are expected to join the survivors. It remains a gravesite for many of those killed.
“We’re a bunch of dedicated service members and we like to honor one another whenever we have the opportunity”, said Harold C. Wohlfeil, past commander of Post 735, who served as the event’s emcee.
“I want them to be reminded that there are those of us that give the ultimate sacrifice and it’s always good to pay homage to those and this is how we do it”, said Erson. Tauyan characterized the problem with the moment of silence as a “small glitch”.
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Almost half of those who perished at Pearl Harbor were sailors aboard the battleship USS Arizona, which Japanese torpedo bombers sank early in the attack, sending 1,177 of its 1,400-member crew to their deaths.
