LOTC Reflection: Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Ceremony

Jackie Berenyi shares:

“This year a small group of USL students attended the ceremony on December 7, 2017 commemorating the 76th anniversary of the bombing at Pearl Harbor. I’ve attended this ceremony with the school three times now, and I feel that the ceremony and is different every year, but it all still leads back to the American tragedy that ended up changing the world forever. This year we had a woman speak whose father was an ensign in the beggining stages of the bombing and the second World War. She stood up and read a journal entry from the day before the bombing and the day of; it included talking about hearing over the radio about the Japaneese bombing, which at first they thought was a joke, but ended up turning out as not a joke at all. We also had a Purple Heart Marine veteran talk to us about the importance of what happened, and how it opened the world’s eyes to the need for the second World War. We experienced the wreath tossing off of the USS Yorktown for veterans of WWI and WWII. I remember last year that they mostly honored the veterans of Pearl Harbor, but as I said, at this ceremony things change every year. What really struck me is when the one Pearl Harbor veteran was praised he said, “The only reason I’m still here is to represent all of those who aren’t.” Overall, I really enjoy this annual USL tradition and look forward to participating in the future Pearl Harbor ceremonies.”

Sinkler Adams shares:

“The Pearl Harbor ceremony was a great learning experience. The Pearl Harbor veterans seemed sad. We went to the ceremony with Mr. Kreutner’s uncle, Roswell Valentine, who was a fighter in Okinawa. The ceremony was held at Patriots Point on the USS Yorktown. There weren’t many Pearl Harbor veterans there, but the ones that were there were happy to see their fellow vetterans. The ceremony started with an introduction, and then a guest speaker spoke about her father, who saw the destruction of Pearl Harbor right after the Japanese attacked. After that there was the wreath ceremony. The annoucer called a deceased veteran name from the attack of Pearl Harbor and a close freind or family member threw a wreath in the water. The ceremony was great but emotional.”