Today the National Park Service with the Pacific Historic Parks was live streaming the 74th Anniversary Commemoration for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day; some of the events were live and some pre-recorded and I see they have posted photos from the event today.
Seeing that someone declared today is also “#LetterWritingDay” it seems mentions of letters today should be about remembering and honoring “a date which will live in infamy”.
These images are from today @WWIIValorNPS – Official twitter page of the USS Arizona Memorial. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument preserves and interprets the stories of the Pacific War. “About to start our 74th commemoration ceremony! Watch it live at http://www.pearlharborevents.com ! #PearlHarbor74″
They reported having “Nearly 50 Pearl Harbor Survivors attended today’s ceremony…”
From Wikipedia: “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed annually in the United States on December 7, is to remember and honor the 2,403 victims who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.”
I’ve included the image of web page pearlharborevents.com today (on right) “Pearl Harbor Day – 74th Anniversary Commemoration” – “Pathway To Reconciliation – From Engagement To Peace”
At The National WWII Museum New Orleans there is a letter from someone stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941:
From Letters Home – Pearl Harbor
“In a world where we take instant communication for granted, it’s hard to imagine what those stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and their families went through to get in touch with one another in the aftermath of that terrible day…”
The article shares “…Corporal Henry G. Rieth details in a letter to his family back in Boston the lengths he has gone to in the days after the attack in order to let The arthem know he is safe. A subsequent letter vaguely touches on the after effects of the surprise attack including injured friends, heightened security and the loss of his possessions. Most importantly, he stresses that they should not worry about him and hopes that his absence will not spoil the upcoming Christmas holiday…”
One of the movies I could always count on my Dad watching over the years was “ Tora, Tora, Tora!”
It was inspiring to watch some of the streaming of the 74th commemoration today. If you can make the time be sure to watch some of it on replay.
Today I am not closing my blog post with my usual signature but instead am closing with this excerpt – “Statement from Governor Doug Ducey Lowering Flags for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day“:
