Pearl Harbor attack remembered

Japanese officials say Abe will not be making an apology for the Pearl Harbor attack, but will commemorate the victims of the war.

Pearl Harbor, a naval base in Hawaii, had just been attacked by the Japanese, hastening the United States entrance into World War II.

“It seemed like I only slept about 10 minutes when she called me and said ‘we’re being attacked.’ And I said ‘who is going to attack us?’ She said ‘the Japanese are here and they’re attacking everything, ‘” Chavez said.

No matter how many years go by, veterans said we should always remember what happened on December 7, 1941.

Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez said the collaborative event served as a reminder to the importance of paying proper respect to the nation’s “most iconic symbol of freedom”.

The soon-to-be 90 year old had a special message for kids from one local school who were at the ceremony. World War II veterans were also recognized during the ceremony. Others embrace and share memories of how much the area has changed since they were stationed here, all those years ago.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Chase was recovering from an illness at a military hospital near Pearl Harbor.

“With technology and different ways to attack, we need to remember that we are vulnerable, and lest we forget, for another surprise attack somewhere else”, Smith said.

“Just out of the blue the Japanese blew Pearl Harbor away”, the 92 year old said.

“We honor the memory of the 2,400 courageous Americans who gave their lives, as well as all those who stood in our defense”, she said.

The sister of the last Pearl Harbor veteran from Martinsville and Henry County helped lay a wreath at her brother’s grave. The next day, President Roosevelt secured a declaration of war from Congress that took the USA into the Second World War – a war that would go on for almost four years until the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945.