Pearl Harbor attack remembered at 70th
anniversary
PHILADELPHIA —
PEARL
HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The Dec. 7, 1941, bombing
of Pearl Harbor and those who lost their lives
that day are being remembered Wednesday on the
70th anniversary of the Japanese attack that
brought the U.S. into World War II.
About 120 survivors will join Navy Secretary Ray
Mabus, military leaders and civilians to observe
a moment of silence in Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m.
Hawaii time ? the moment the attack began seven
decades ago.
About 3,000 people are expected to attend the
event held each year at a site overlooking the
sunken USS Arizona and the white memorial that
straddles the battleship.
The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer
USS Chung-Hoon will render honors to the Arizona
and blow its whistle at the start of a moment of
silence at 7:55 a.m. ? the same time 70 years
ago the first Japanese planes began to attack.
F-22 jets flown by the Hawaii National Guard are
due to soar overhead in a missing man formation
to finish the moment of silence.
Mal Middlesworth, a Marine veteran who was on
the USS San Francisco during the bombing, will
deliver the keynote address.
President Barack Obama hailed veterans of the
bombing in a statement proclaiming Wednesday
"National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."
"Their tenacity helped define the Greatest
Generation and their valor fortified all who
served during World War II. As a nation, we look
to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the
example set by these patriots and to honor all
who have sacrificed for our freedoms," he said.
Also this week, five ash scattering and
interment ceremonies are being held for five
survivors whose cremated remains are returning
to Pearl Harbor after their deaths.
On Tuesday, an urn containing the ashes of Lee
Soucy was placed on his battleship, the USS
Utah, which is lying on its side near the place
where it sank 70 years ago. The ashes of Vernon
Olsen, who was on the Arizona during the attack,
will be placed on his ship late Wednesday.
The U.S. lost 12 vessels that day, but the
Arizona and the Utah are the only ones still
sitting in the harbor. The ashes of three others
are being scattered in the water in separate
ceremonies this week.
· Navy Region Hawaii Honor Guard members carry an urn, right, with the ashes of Pearl Harbor survivor Lee Soucy during Soucy's internment ceremony, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 in Honolulu. Soucy, who died last year at the age of 90, wanted to have his ashes interred inside the USS Utah, his ship that sank during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Dec. 7, 1941. Several memorials are happening the same week the country observes the 70th anniversary of the aerial bombing that killed 2,390 Americans and brought the United States into World War II. A larger ceremony to remember all those who perished will be held Wednesday just before 8 a.m. Hawaii time. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
· Navy Region Hawaii Honor Guard members carry an urn, right, with the ashes of Pearl Harbor survivor Lee Soucy during Soucy's internment ceremony, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 in Honolulu. Soucy, who died last year at the age of 90, wanted to have his ashes interred inside the USS Utah, his ship that sank during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Dec. 7, 1941. Several memorials are happening the same week the country observes the 70th anniversary of the aerial bombing that killed 2,390 Americans and brought the United States into World War II. A larger ceremony to remember all those who perished will be held Wednesday just before 8 a.m. Hawaii time. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
· Navy divers swim with the urn of Pearl Harbor survivor Lee Soucy during Soucy's internment ceremony, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 in Honolulu. Soucy, who died last year at the age of 90, wanted to have his ashes interred inside the USS Utah, his ship that sank during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
· Navy Region Hawaii Honor Guard seaman plays taps at sunset during the internment ceremony for Pearl Harbor survivor Lee Soucy, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 in Honolulu. Soucy, who died last year at the age of 90, wanted to have his ashes interred inside the USS Utah, his ship that sank during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
