This past week the world recalled that 80 years ago Japan’s fighter planes attacked the United States, hitting Hawaii early on a Sunday morning when soldiers are still asleep, and throwing the previously unengaged United States into World War II– a war this country intended to not ever fight in.

At 0755, Hawaiian time, the first wave of Japanese aircraft begin the attack on the ships in Pearl Harbor, and the air stations at Hickam, Wheeler, Ford Island, Kaneohe, and Ewa Field.

According to the National Public Radio website, the Japanese attack continued for two hours and 20 minutes. When it’s over, more than 2,400 Americans are dead and nearly 1,200 wounded. Eighteen ships have been sunk or damaged and more than 300 aircraft are damaged or destroyed.

The following day, then-President Roosevelt declares war on Japan, marking our nation’s entry into the war.

Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies take place throughout the nation and world, even though the first National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day took place only 27 years ago in 1994. 

The White House and other federal government buildings lower their flags to half-mast to honor those who gave their lives that infamous day. Americans honor those who were stationed there that day by displaying wreaths, American flags, wearing patriotic colors, and attending wreath-laying ceremonies. Those ceremonies include keynote speeches recalling tales from survivors, recognizing the attending survivors and visiting with them, and learning about the attack and what it meant for the countries future at that time.

Upon visiting Hawaii, visitors will find museums dedicated to the historical event that took place just outside of Honolulu at Pearl Harbor, the military installation. 

For the past 80 years, it has been a tradition to honor those who risked their lives for our freedom and justice. 

“It’s important to learn about these stories, to hear these personal accounts, from those who lived through this horrific day. This happened 80 years ago, which means those veterans who are still with us were mostly teenagers who had already enlisted in the military. This generation is known throughout the world as the greatest generation, and we must do our part to preserve their accounts, and more importantly, to learn from those accounts,” American Literature teacher Alejandra Valdez said. “We need to before the opportunity to collect their brave accounts has gone.”

The US Air Force website provides a timeline of the morning of December 7, 1941. That timeline can be found at https://www.offutt.af.mil/News/Article/2862043/pearl-harbor-80th-anniversary/