A Day In Infamy Not Soon Forgotten
(January 22, 2011) |
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| JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (1/19/2011) - The purpose: Prevent the
U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with any future
operations in Southeast Asia. The mission: Attack and deter
the enemy with 353 airplanes. The target: Pearl Harbor.
Dec. 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy,” as
stated by President Franklin D. 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.
Dec. 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. This year it
was held at the American Legion Burton-Cowell Post 265
building in Jacksonville, N.C.
“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. “It's where all the vets in
the community can come together and honor those who were
lost and who survived that day.”
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.
“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.
“My grandfather died in that attack, so its remembrance is
something near and dear to my heart. 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.”
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. The guest speaker, retired Sgt. Maj. Richard McGee,
then took the podium to speak about his experience during
that fateful day.
“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. “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.”
As
McGee stepped down, a wreath was lifted by two American
Legion members. 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.
“We can never forget what
happened and we must always remain vigilant,” said McGee.
“We must never forget Pearl Harbor.”
As 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. Whether or not at Pearl Harbor, in an armed
conflict or even a service member, the memory of Dec. 7,
1941, should not be forgotten by any single man or women; so
long as we live, so shall they live on. |
By USMC LCpl. Jonathan Wright
Camp LeJeune Base Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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