The National Park Service and the U. S. Navy will host a joint memorial ceremony commemorating the 67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday morning, December 7th. The event will be conducted on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor’s Kilo Pier from 7:40 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Kilo Pier venue looks directly out to the USS Arizona Memorial, situated approximately a half-mile away in Pearl Harbor.
More than 2,000 distinguished guests and the general public will join military personnel, both active and Pearl Harbor survivors, for the annual observance of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
The theme of this year’s historic commemoration, “Pacific War Memories: The Heroic Response to Pearl Harbor,” will reflect on remembering the brave efforts of those who fought at sea, on land, and in the air, to turn the tide in the pacific. For military who serve today, this ceremony provides a study of lessons learned and an opportunity to express gratitude towards the Pearl Harbor veterans.
Highlights of the ceremony will include music by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, morning colors, a Hawaiian blessing, a rifle salute by members of the U.S. Marine Corps, wreath observations, echo taps and recognition of the men and women who survived on December 7, 1941, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Keynote speakers for the event will be Mr. Thomas C. Griffin, Doolittle Raider, and Admiral Robert F. Willard, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
A moment of silence will be observed at 7:55 a.m., the exact moment the Japanese attack began 67 years ago. The Pearl Harbor-based Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer, USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93), will render honors to the USS Arizona. Military aircraft will fly over the memorial in a “missing man” formation.
The commemoration is free of charge, and a limited number of seats are open to the general public. Due to strict security measures on Naval Station Pearl Harbor, only invited guests will be allowed access on base in their vehicles. General public wishing to attend the commemoration will be required to board U.S. Navy boats departing from the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, which will transport guests to the commemoration site at Kilo Pier.
If you plan to attend the event, details on parking, access, security measures and other important details are available on the website for the USS Arizona Memorial.
Comments
How ironic that on this date I should read this story. A story about a soldier asking for asylum in Germany because he didn’t want to fight, didn’t believe in the war in the middle east. Here is a volunteer who took an oath to serve and wouldn’t and the comments were mostly praising him for his decision. Thank God he and those who support him are the minority. Where would this country be if they were the majority? They disgrace the memory of the self-sacrifice and bravery of those who gave their lives in defense of our country. He and anyone like him should be shot for desertion. I, like many others was drafted, didn’t want to go but did what we had to do. Fly the flag tomorrow to honor all who made the supreme sacrifice.
America's oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, living his 100th year is former enlisted Chief Petty Officer, Aviation Chief Ordnanceman (ACOM), later wartime commissioned Lieutenant John W. Finn, USN (Ret.). He is also the last surviving Medal of Honor, "The Day of Infamy", Japanese Attack on the Hawaiian Islands, Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
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