National Pearl Harbor Day
Photograph taken from a Japanese plane during the torpedo attack on ships moored on both sides of Ford Island shortly after the beginning of the Pearl Harbor attack. View looks about east, with the supply depot, submarine base and fuel tank farm in the right center distance. A torpedo has just hit USS West Virginia on the far side of Ford Island (center). Other battleships moored nearby are (from left): Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee (inboard of West Virginia), Oklahoma (torpedoed and listing) alongside Maryland, and California. On the near side of Ford Island, to the left, are light cruisers Detroit and Raleigh, target and training ship Utah and seaplane tender Tangier. Raleigh and Utah have been torpedoed, and Utah is listing sharply to port. Japanese planes are visible in the right center (over Ford Island) and over the Navy Yard at right. U.S. Navy planes on the seaplane ramp are on fire. Japanese writing in the lower right states that the photograph was reproduced by authorization of the Navy Ministry.
In honor of those that served and lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor, a proclamation has been declared that December 7th is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
On December 7, 1941, in the early morning hours, bombs were dropped on Hawaii in an act of war against the United States. 73 years ago, more than 2,400 Americans lost their lives during that attack and it seriously impacted our Pacific Fleet of ships. Members of the Greatest Generation stood firm, as men and women rose to the call and joined the armed forces to fight against a foe that grew stronger every day. They were courageous in the face of the assault on Pearl Harbor and that assault became the Untied States first battle of the Second World War. The proclamation is in honor of those that served this Nation in its time of need and took up the challenge of defeating a destructive force. Those that fly flags are encouraged to fly them at half-staff in honor of the men and women that served and sacrificed with honor for the United States of America.
