Ceremony held to remember local fallen military

While it’s not a federal holiday, December 7 is a day the nation remembers since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Harry Gunter Jr. remembers standing in an airplane hanger in San Diego, drinking a cup of coffee, and hearing the news that Pearl Harbor had just been attacked. Howard was aboard the USS Maryland during the attack.

Also on Monday, A few dozen survivors were gathered at the Pearl Harbor site in Hawaii to remember fellow servicemen.

In attendance at the ceremony were 95-year-old Clyde Stephenson from Appleton and 93-year-old King resident Chuck Davis, both survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack.

It’s 74 years later, but Elmer Luckett will never forget where he was December 7th 1941.

“These were two tragic events in America’s history where we were actually attacked on our own ground”, said Veteran Jack Sanford.

The 94-year-old was assigned to the USS Phoenix on the day Japanese planes dropped bombs on the USA naval base and other military installations on Oahu. “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. “God bless them all”, said Tammaro. Valerio, a U.S. Army veteran, manned a seacoast gun battery during the Japanese bombing.

Jim Reftis, the Memorial Day Chairman with VFW Post 1371, said Owego – and all of Tioga County – has a lot of respect for its veterans.

Pearl Harbor survivors tossed a wreath over the USS Midway at exactly 7:55 Hawaii time, that’s when the attacks began. “It was one of the most unbelievable things in my life”.

Now, with the very youngest among them in their early 90s, they have outlived virtually their entire generation, but some who attended Monday’s commemoration ceremonies were already vowing not to miss next year’s milestone 75th anniversary.

“It’s us being able to honor those who have served, and the chance for us to get together with some of the civilian people that had family members that were in the branches of the service”, Jerry Burton of the Marine Corps League said.