95-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor attends ceremony

On that day more than 70 years ago, America lost 200 soldiers and sailors, with another 1,000 wounded.

Alfred Wagner, the son of a World War II veteran, attended the event on Monday and said he is glad to live in an area that has such high regards for their veterans. The geographic isolation and tropical climate easily lulled inhabitants into a feeling of security, one that was shattered forever in the American psyche when seemingly out of nowhere, Japanese fighters appeared in the skies over Pearl Harbor.

Hutchinson also acknowledged the bravery of the Hoga’s crew at Pearl Harbor, calling the tug “the little boat that could”. “We have a responsibility to say thanks to them, and to make it known what they accomplished. I’ve always wondered what happened to that man. I let him fall back in the water and I feel guilty about it. And I just don’t know what happened to him”, Stewart said as he fought tears.

Russell said he remembers the disbelief and terror.

Many are voicing concerns that we may be headed to war following the recent attack in San Bernardino. “It resulted in the US becoming a super power”.

It’s 74 years later, but Elmer Luckett will never forget where he was December 7th 1941. She said she often shares it with today’s young people, who seem to have hard time grasping the reality of her childhood.

The VFW sits in the middle of a quiet neighborhood on Stephenson Street and the ceremony was held as vehicles passed and neighbors walked their dogs. “It was a day of great tragedy, yet it ignited a sense of national pride”. Slater says the surprise attack left them feeling helpless.

“I flew over it just to get up in the air to see what was bad and it was a mess”, said Gunter.

“They went right by us, every 15-20 minutes a truck would go by, and they were taking the bodies down into a big ditch down in the cornfield”.