Today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

On this day, 73 years ago, the Japanese led a sneak attack on the US Navy base at Pearl Harbor, crushing our naval forces. Over 2,400 were killed. More than a thousand others were injured. Twenty one ships were destroyed. The attack lasted just two hours.

Few anticipated an attack on this scale on our own soil. The attack led President Franklin D Roosevelt to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Japan. There was only one dissenting vote – Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana. Until now, America had managed to stay out of WWII. Three days after we declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy – both Japanese allies – also declared war on America.

Yesterday, President Obama proclaiming today is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The Proclamation encourages Americans to observe today and remember those fallen in service on that tragic day that brought

America

into the Second World War.

Today we remember those who lost their lives, both those in service and civilians. May their Memory Be Eternal.

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