Today, December 7th, marks Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day—a moment etched into the soul of our nation. Eighty-three years ago, on a quiet Sunday morning in Hawaii, the course of history was violently altered. The attack on Pearl Harbor claimed more than 2,400 American lives, drew the United States into World War II, and awakened a generation to the reality of sacrifice, resilience, and duty.
For many of our parents and grandparents, December 7, 1941, is not just a page in the history books; it is a memory seared into their consciousness. They recall where they were when they heard the news, just as many of us vividly remember where we stood on September 11, 2001. Both were moments of profound loss and national awakening, and they remain defining chapters in the story of America.
Fewer Voices to Tell the Story
The voices of Pearl Harbor survivors are growing quieter with each passing year. Once numbering in the tens of thousands, only a handful remain to bear witness to that day of infamy. These men, now in their late nineties and beyond, carry with them the weight of history. They are living reminders of what it means to endure, to fight for freedom, and to come together as a nation.
Their numbers may dwindle, but their stories must not fade. As stewards of this history, it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations know the names of the battleships, like the USS Arizona and the USS Oklahoma, that became tombs for so many. It is our duty to teach our children that the freedoms we enjoy were hard-won by those who answered the call to serve.
A Generation of Heroes
We often call them “The Greatest Generation,” and rightly so. The men and women who lived through World War II gave everything to defend liberty. They fought on foreign soil, labored in factories, rationed goods, and bought war bonds. They understood that America’s strength lies not in avoiding hardship but in rising to meet it.
Pearl Harbor wasn’t just an attack on a naval base; it was an attack on who we are as a people. In response, this generation banded together in a way that feels almost foreign in our divided modern world. They didn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem. They got to work, united in purpose, determined to build a better future.
Remembering Through a Modern Lens
For those of us who were shaped by 9/11, there is a poignant connection to Pearl Harbor. The disbelief, the grief, the resolve—it’s all too familiar. Both days remind us of the fragility of peace and the cost of defending it. They challenge us to consider what kind of nation we want to be in the face of adversity.
But there’s an even deeper lesson: the importance of remembering. Just as our parents and grandparents passed down their stories of Pearl Harbor, we must share the memory of 9/11 with our children. These moments, separated by six decades, are threads in the same fabric of resilience and resolve that defines America.
A number of years ago, I was able to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Be sure and include a visit anytime you are on the island of Oahu.
The Legacy We Carry
Today, let’s pause to honor those who perished on December 7, 1941, and the generations who fought to secure the freedoms we so often take for granted. Let’s remember the sacrifices of ordinary men and women who were called to do extraordinary things. And let’s pledge to keep their stories alive—not as relics of the past but as beacons for the future.
Pearl Harbor is not just a history lesson; it’s a legacy. It reminds us that the values we hold dear—freedom, democracy, and unity—are worth defending. And it challenges us to live up to the example set by those who came before us.
As we remember Pearl Harbor Day, let’s honor the past, reflect on the present, and recommit to building a nation worthy of their sacrifice.
“December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy.” Let it live, indeed, in the hearts of every American.
