Seventy-one years ago today, a surprise military attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, rocked our world. Twenty-four hundred people lost their lives. Americans who had resisted entering World War II were now taking the global strife personally.
“Remember Pearl Harbor” was a phrase from a rallying song that became known to most. Another phrase was simply, “Never forget.” Our country would not be galvanized in this way again for nearly 60 years, with the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001. Those who lived through either or both of these events do remember those days.
A few times a year, we make it a point to honor our veterans. On Pearl Harbor Day, we should honor the veterans of World War II in particular. Pearl Harbor Day may be history, but there are more than a million World War II veterans still living, and many millions of civilians who recall that day from personal experience, not from history books.
We should remember Dec. 7, 1941, to honor those who gave their lives defending this country, and to honor those who put their lives on hold to do the same. We should honor those still with us, and thank those as well who defend our borders today.