The U.S.S. Arizona was struck, exploded and sank.
The body of the ship was left where it sank and today is a memorial.
For the United States, the sneak attack was the beginning of our entry into World War Two. For more than 2,300 sailors at Pearl Harbor it was the end of their lives.
As President Franklin Roosevelt said then it would be a day that would live in infamy. And it remains so today . . . 70 years and many more wars later.
I have one great-uncle who was lost on that day. My grandparents went to visit the memorial when I was a small child. Of course, what I remember most from that visit is that we got a postcard saying that they were bringing my mom a moo-moo (at least that's what I thought it was). Since they had a dairy farm I figured they were bringing back a stuffed cow. I was VERY disappointed to find out it was a dress!
ReplyDeleteOur grandparents had Pearl Harbor, we had the Kennedy assassination and our children have 9/11. Sad days we'll all remember.
ReplyDeleteBruce-
ReplyDeletethanks for this post. spent some time today with
some mid to late 80 year old men who recalled
where they were and how their lives soon changed
by the events of this day 70 years ago.
Stephen made a good comparison. WWII/Pearl Harbor changed the world permanently.
ReplyDeleteS