Culture

Pearl Harbor Remembered

by ryan | December 7, 2007 at 11:53 am

721 views | 20 Recommendations | 7 comments

American politics seems to be both fixated and stifled by ongoing military engagements and the threat of new ones. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a obviously a turning point for America and for the world. It was the first step toward the end of WWII. Today America and the world remembers the attack and looks forward in an attempt to determine its role in foreign affaits. Perhaps some lessons will be drawn from the events which occurred on December 7th, 1941.

On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Until then, we had not really entered World War II. They attacked us. Just like all the many attacks in which the replacement-"they" have attacked us--not just on 9/11/01, but well before and after.

Today, 66 years later there is nary a peep in the mainstream media or on the newscasts. But there are five Pearl Harbor survivors, in their 80s and 90s, who regularly volunteer at the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, talking to visitors and keeping history alive. There were 15, but now just five (check out the photo gallery of these suriving heroes). These heroes are dying out:

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Jordan Yerman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:06 on December 7th, 2007

I remember seeing the USS Arizona for the first time around 16 years ago- the guide told us that it's still leaking fuel to this day. That really got to me, like the ship was still bleeding.

Joseph Hoetzl

at 12:22 on December 7th, 2007

I shot this from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. There were a total of 6 people that seemed to be aware of what this was for, and out of those 6, myself and a gentleman doing video for Channel 11 were there early enough to catch the shots.

4 people told us that they heard it was happening at 1PM, but it was at 12:55PM.

Earlier, I also had conflicting times times they were doing this ceremony.

A few people walking through the park approached us to ask why the planes were there.

I saw several news helicopters flying around but won't see if they run anything until later.

michaelmatusinec

at 12:47 on December 7th, 2007

Seeing is believeing, it's sad and makes your heart weep for all those who lost there lives. My-father-in-law was @ Hickam Field and it was difficult for many years to tell the story of the attack.The photo that I capture only tells a small part of the attack

roobenhawk

at 13:19 on December 7th, 2007

I took this picture on a trip to Hawai'i in 2005. This picture was taken at the Arizona Memorial looking up through the roof to the American flag. The memorial is very quiet with most people silent. As I took this picture the only sound was the flag flapping above.

ooga9999

at 14:16 on December 7th, 2007

It was a very humbling experience. It was a solemn time standing above the USS Arizona and knowing what great sacrifices the men that lie below have made.

ooga9999

at 14:18 on December 7th, 2007

Thanks.

ifindtrends

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 00:12 on December 8th, 2007

I had to really search to find a tiny link about Pearl Harbor today on all the "major news sites" and I come here and find it on the top five stories. That's good to see.

I think that we can learn a lot from Pearl Harbor and WWII. Two nations involved in a deadly and disastorous war can resolve their differences and agree on a true peace agreement.

This ( Peace) is what our soldiers ( Japanese and U.S.) were fighting for and we have to take a minute to thank them for this.

Thanks for getting this to the front!