National Pearl Habor Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the United States on December 7th. The day is to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering World War II. Germany, in turn, declared war on the United States. (Wikipedia)
Pearl Harbor is a U.S. Naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, which was the scene of a devastating attack by Japan. There were also civilians and additional 1000 were wounded. The surprise attack took place a little before 8:00 AM destroying or damaging nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships and over 300 airplanes. Movies have been created with multiple remakes of Pearl Harbor. Franklin Roosevelt’s words will never be forgotten “a date which will live in infamy” and today those words are still true.
President Bill Clinton proclaimed December 7, 1994. the first National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack. Pearl Harbor Day is not a national holiday, therefore. Public offices, schools and businesses do not close.
D-Day and Pearl Harbor are linked because Pearl Harbor created a war. D-Day proved an appropriate measure as part of that war (4,414 allied deaths which included 2,501 American troops).
World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. Details of the numbers can be found on Wikipedia – World War II casualties.
Pearl Harbor initially sparked a state of war to exist between Japan and the United States. After Germany declared war on the United States, and vice versa, the U.S. prioritized Europe over the Pacific. The United States previously supplied the Soviets, British, Chinese and other Allies with equipment, notably via the Lend-Lease Act of 1940. The American people did not want to enter the war directly, but Pearl Harbor forced the entry.
These events indeed remain connected, ultimately because they encompass the beginning, beginning of the end, and the end of WWII for America. Pearl Harbor served as the start, D-Day the climax and the bombing of Hiroshima the resolution of the United States in the Second War. (Pearl Harbor Warbirds).
There are so many things that can be written about World War II and Pearl Harbor which was a deliberate hit on American soil with thousands of lives taken that fateful day. That day, and the American men and women who fought our enemies during that time, will never be forgotten. Please take time this Pearl Harbor Day to thank a veteran or their family for the sacrifices made that day.
United We Stand Aways.
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