Every year on December 7, Americans observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to commemorate the lives lost and the courage shown during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese forces in 1941. The attack, which plunged the United States into World War II, is considered one of the most significant events in American history and a defining moment for the Greatest Generation.
What happened on December 7, 1941?
On a peaceful Sunday morning, at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes launched a devastating assault on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, located on the island of Oahu. The attack lasted less than two hours, but it left a trail of destruction and death. Four U.S. battleships were sunk, four others were damaged, and three cruisers, three destroyers, and a minelayer were also hit. A total of 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed and 159 were damaged. Most importantly, 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 were wounded. The Japanese losses were much smaller: 29 aircraft, five midget submarines, and 64 servicemen.
The attack was a complete surprise to the Americans, who had no prior warning or intelligence of the Japanese plan. The Japanese intended to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and prevent it from interfering with their expansion in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. However, they failed to achieve their main objective, which was to destroy the U.S. aircraft carriers, which were not present at Pearl Harbor that day. They also failed to destroy the oil storage facilities, the submarine base, and the repair shops, which proved to be vital for the U.S. war effort.
The attack on Pearl Harbor had a profound impact on the American psyche and the course of the war. President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation on December 8, declaring that December 7 was “a date which will live in infamy” and asking Congress to declare war on Japan. Congress approved the declaration with only one dissenting vote. The American people rallied behind the war effort, with millions of men and women volunteering for military service and millions more working in factories and farms to support the troops. The attack also united the Allies, who pledged to fight together until the “final victory”.
How is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day observed?
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day was established by Congress in 1994, as a way to honor and remember the victims and the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor On this day, the American flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset, and a moment of silence is observed at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, the exact time of the attack Various ceremonies and events are held across the nation, especially at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii, where the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, and the USS Utah Memorial are located.
These memorials are dedicated to the ships and the sailors who perished in the attack The USS Arizona Memorial, which was built in 1962, is a white marble structure that spans the sunken hull of the battleship, where 1,177 crew members are still entombed. The memorial hosts an annual commemoration ceremony, which includes a wreath-laying, a rifle salute, a flyover, and a keynote speech. The ceremony is attended by Pearl Harbor survivors, veterans, dignitaries, and visitors from all over the world.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is not a federal holiday, but a day of solemn reflection and gratitude. It is a day to pay tribute to the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country, and to the resilient spirit of the American people who rose from the ashes of Pearl Harbor to fight for freedom and democracy. It is a day to remember the words of President Roosevelt, who said, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”
