A date which will live in infamy

[bmcuscgr94]

An old salt gave a toast at a unit 4th of July BBQ when I was stationed in Virginia:

We here today promise to those that came before, that we will never let those that come after, forget the sacrifices you have made for our freedoms today.

To all of those who were at Pearl Harbor 71 years ago today, we salute you, we cannot thank you enough for your service and sacrifice. Fair winds and following seas.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by R K T

The local TV news was on the street interviewing some "younger" people this morning, asking them what Dec 7th meant to them. Six out of the seven people had no idea what happened on Dec 7th 1941.

It made me mad, sad, disgusted, scared and sickened at what our country has become.

Baz, that was amazing to read that letter from your father. Simply amazing. Thanks for sharing.

RKT, I have to agree with your statement but I have to admit I was one of the "young" people. I didn't fully grasp the extent of Pearl Harbor until I went there. And when I went there and visited the museum, whoa. There were times all I could do was stand there in silence. I teared up watching the videos of the survivors and reading their descriptions of that day and the days to follow. The way the people described that day... It was when I heard their voices tell the story of that day, saw the videos, the personal pictures, everything that made it so real. That's why when my boys get a little older, I want to take them there and other memorials to hear the stories first hand. What I felt standing there in Pearl Harbor will make me never forget what happened that day. Nothing in a classroom or book could have made me feel that way.

Thank you for all those who serve and their families.

[Doug E]

I visited the memorial this summer and there was a survivor in our tour group. It was almost surreal to be standing there thinking about what happened that day and at the same listening to someone talk about their experience.

Thanks for sharing that letter Baz.

[allaircooled]

The wall with the names did it for me. I couldn't handle it. I was still in the Navy when I visited the memorial.

[vash]

i read alot about Pearl Harbor as a kid. i had a great teacher than mesmerized the class with his lessons.

but i will always forget the date. i forget ALL dates. forgetting the date, and forgetting the event are two different things altogether.

when we visited the memorial. the Japanese were very quiet and somber. there were a bunch of american kids running around, acting the fool. parents opted not to intervene.

[A930Rocket]

I've remembered the date forever. My dad was too young to join the military then, but helped his dad after school at the Charleston Navy Yard.

Thanks to the greatest generation. I hope that what they did is never forgotten or lost on those in the future.