74th Year of Remembrance

On Dec. 11 last year, Bill, Annie and I visited Pearl Harbor and took the short cruise to the USS Arizona where we spent about 20 minutes or so walking around the memorial honoring those lost Dec. 7, 1941 in the Japanese attack. 

It was a solemn experience for us, to say the least, and touching.  We listened to guides tell the poignant stories as visitors looked to the waters below.  

We watched old soldiers who had been there that day.  We found a familiar local name etched on a wall: Stockman.

Mostly, we took in as much as we could of the overall setting---the plaques, the wreaths sent for last year's anniversary and the other respectful visitors in our group, representing all walks of life, cultures and ages. 

We pondered what it must have been like that day so long ago in that spot and, later, back home in the United States where our parents and grandparents received the shocking news which all who were alive that day took with them for the rest of their lives. 

For us not yet born on Pearl Harbor Day, we still understood the gravity because our older family members had clearly conveyed to us countless times their individual details of where they were when the news broke and what it was like to suddenly be at war. 

The attack on Pearl Harbor meant the United States was at war, leading to a collective rolling up of sleeves for that generation to participate in any way possible to help with the American cause.  

All who did so proudly and deservedly shared with younger generations their individual contributions.  

Hard to believe that next year will mark 75 years and the passing of most who were directly involved in Pearl Harbor and the World War II effort.  

Let us hope that examples set by our Greatest Generation, whose lives were changed forever because of Pearl Harbor, will live on and continue to inspire us.