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81st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Commemoration
by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Shardenae Tackett
December 11, 2022
The U.S. military, State of Hawaii, and
National Park Service have spent the week hosting a series of
remembrance events to honor those who served during one of the most
devastating wars in recorded history. “We can continue to honor
those who served and sacrificed by sharing the diverse stories and
history related to the events from before, during, and after
December 7th,” states Tom Leatherman, superintendent of the Pearl
Harbor National Memorial.
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December 7, 2022 - The Joint
Service Color Guard presents the colors as part of the 81st
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony at the Pearl Harbor
National Memorial at Pearl Harbor. (Image created by USA
Patriotism! from U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ernesto Bonilla.)
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The focus of this year’s events is to
reflect upon the impact of sacrifices and circumstances that shaped
a generation. “The everlasting legacy of Pearl Harbor will be shared
at this site for all time,” says Leatherman. “We must never forget
those who came before us so that we can chart a more peaceful path
for those who follow.”
Those who served in uniform and on the
home front were vital to pursuing peace in the following
generations. They carried the memory of those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice with them as a reminder to persevere. “The heroes were the
ones that didn’t come home,” says U.S. Navy veteran Lou Conter. “The
ones that lost their lives, the 2403 members of the military that
lost their lives that day.”
Conter recalls how significant the USS
Arizona memorial is to him in remembering his fallen shipmates. He
served aboard the USS Arizona during the attacks. “The damage to the
Arizona was severe,” he said. “We started helping the men that were
in the flames come out of the fire and help them lay down until we
could get them over to the boats to get them to the hospital.”
Today, you can view the remains of the ship via the memorial as
it sits underneath the water as a reminder to that day. Thanks to
the National Parks Service, the memorials remain present for all to
partake in keeping the memory of those sacrifices alive.
“Each time I am on the Arizona memorial, I take a moment to view the
names of my shipmates and thank God for their ultimate sacrifice.”
Conter states.
The 81st annual Pearl Harbor remembrance
ceremony took place on the grounds of the Pearl Harbor national
memorial. The remembrance circle is another nod to the sacrifices
made on that day. “There you will find the names of every soul lost
in that attack, both military and civilian,” says Rear Adm. Stephen
Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii. “As we remember their
sacrifice, we are brought to this circle right here to contemplate
what it means 81 years later.”
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December 7, 2022 - Hawaii Gov. Josh Green greets Pearl Harbor survivor, Jack Holder, during a Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Service photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ernesto Bonilla.)
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The harbor contains the USS
Arizona memorial, as well as the battleship USS Missouri. Both ships
held great significance to the history of World War II. “The USS
Arizona memorial and the USS Missouri provide a powerful visual
reminder of the lessons learned from the veterans who served
throughout the duration of the war,” says Barnett. “They serve with
valor, beginning on the attack day December 7th 1941, until victory
was achieved and peace was announced on board the USS Missouri in
1945 in Tokyo Bay.”
Once the allied victory was
won, the experiences gained followed veterans and civilians to the
next challenge. The lessons learned during this time would be used
to overcome bias and inequality while searching for peace and
reconciliation in a changed world. “When that war concluded, another
great legacy was born,” states Barnett. “Today, America’s
relationship with the people of Japan is a model of good
relationships everywhere.”
The determined efforts of service
members and civilians to overcome the odds and work toward a better
world for those that followed still impacts us today. “It is
important to remember what happened,” U.S. Army veteran Henry Lee
states. “History is coming to a point where it is repeating itself.
We’ve got to be very cautious about what the world is coming to now
and I believe we are taking the right steps to making sure this
doesn’t happen again.”
We honor this everlasting legacy now
and always as a standard to measure our own rising generations for
years to come.
Our Valiant Troops |
I Am The One |
Veterans |
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U.S. Department
of Defense
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