Pearl Harbor Commemoration Marks 84th Anniversary

On Sunday, ceremonies to honor Pearl Harbor began in Hawaii with a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., marking the start of Japanese air raids on December 7, 1941.

This annual event commemorated the 84th anniversary of the attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 2,300 military personnel and led the United States into World War II.

“During this remembrance, we highlight the necessity of reflecting on our history, particularly those times when hopes for peace disappeared and our nation entered into global conflict,” said David Ono, the event’s moderator.

Historically, survivors of the attack have been a central focus of these ceremonies held at the military base’s waterfront. However, today only 12 veterans remain. This year, not all centenarians could travel to Hawaii for the commemoration, which meant that no one present had direct memories of their service during the attack.

In his speech, Ono emphasized that the ceremony is not solely a time for remembrance and gratitude, but also an appeal to continue building upon the strong legacy created by the “greatest generation.”

Survivors had usually taken part in past ceremonies, except for 2020 when it was closed to the public due to health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Attending the 50th anniversary event in 1991, approximately 2,000 survivors participated. In recent years, that number has dwindled, with last year seeing only two attendees, reflecting the significant loss from an estimated 87,000 troops who were stationed on Oahu that day.