WASHINGTON — Dec. 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) encourages all Americans to pause and reflect on the 82nd anniversary of the day that forever changed the course of our nation’s history. Japan’s surprise attack was a brutal and devastating event, but one that would bring together the nation to defend our sovereignty, confront tyranny and win back freedom around the world.
On Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a thoroughly planned and executed assault on the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet, sinking or severely damaging 19 ships and destroying or damaging more than 300 aircraft. In all, more than 3,500 American men and women were killed or wounded. The 2,403 killed would be the largest single day loss of American life in an attack on the U.S. for the next 60 years. While it was a day of immense tragedy, it would also become a day which showcased America’s unbreakable spirit.
On this National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary encourage everyone to take a moment to remember the 2,403 victims tragically lost in the attack and remember the defining moment when brave young American men and women rose up to defend our nation, help liberate the world from tyranny and go on to become “The Greatest Generation.”