SOMBER MOMENTS; PEARL HARBOR VETS REMEMBER ATTACK.Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer For a few moments Monday, the memory of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor, land-locked harbor, on the southern coast of Oahu island, Hawaii, W of Honolulu; one of the largest and best natural harbors in the E Pacific Ocean. In the vicinity are many U.S. military installations, including the chief U.S. 57 years ago came alive again for Francis Ford and about 50 other people who attended a ceremony at Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Veteran's Memorial Park. ``Everybody forgets'' said Ford, a 77-year-old West Hills resident who was stationed in an army airfield barracks bar·rack 1 tr.v. bar·racked, bar·rack·ing, bar·racks To house (soldiers, for example) in quarters. n. 1. A building or group of buildings used to house military personnel. about 10 miles from Pearl Harbor. ``It's important people understand what happened in the past so that we don't repeat it.'' Shirley Peterson of Valley Village had a special reason to attend the ceremony sponsored by American Legion American Legion, national association of male and female war veterans, founded (1919) in Paris. Membership is open to veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Post 193. Her late husband, Walt, had survived the attack and throughout his life Dec. 7 was a date to be honored - ``the date which will live in infamy Notoriety; condition of being known as possessing a shameful or disgraceful reputation; loss of character or good reputation. At Common Law, infamy was an individual's legal status that resulted from having been convicted of a particularly reprehensible crime, rendering him ,'' as President Franklin D. Roosevelt had told the nation. ``We need to toot our own horn because we stood for something,'' she said. ``I really believe this generation of men and women saved the world.'' Across the nation, veterans and survivors paused with thousands of other Americans to mark the event that led to the United States' entry into World War II. At Pearl Harbor itself in Hawaii, all went silent at 7:55 a.m., the exact moment of the attack 57 years ago, until a long blast from the USS Russell Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Russell. The first was named in honor of Rear Admiral John Henry Russell (1827–1897). The second was named for Admiral Russell and his son, Marine Commandant John Henry Russell, Jr. filled the air and Hawaii Air National Guard F-15s roared over the harbor in the ``missing man'' formation. Survivors, relatives, state and military officials gathered at the USS Arizona Memorial USS Arizona Memorial: see National Parks and Monuments (table). , directly over the wreckage, to pay tribute in a somber ceremony. In Van Nuys, veterans and others took part in an event started just three years ago, as a special commemoration of Pearl Harbor. ``We just thought it's not a national holiday - but it is one of the most important days in world history,'' said Bill Glass, who is commander of Post 193, which conducted the Van Nuys ceremony. The Japanese surprise attack killed 2,340 military personnel at bases throughout Hawaii and 48 civilians, sank or beached 12 Navy ships, and destroyed 164 military planes, according to the National Park Service. The greatest toll was on the Arizona, where 1,177 crew members were killed. Japan lost 64 fliers, 29 planes and five midget submarines. Now the veterans face another foe: age. Glass and others noted that membership in veterans organizations has been dwindling dwin·dle v. dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles v.intr. To become gradually less until little remains. v.tr. To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease. in recent years, due in part to the deaths of World War II veterans, most of whom are now in their mid-70s to early 80s. Leo Leo, in astronomy Leo [Lat.,=the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Santero san·te·ro n. A priest of Santeria. [American Spanish, from Spanish, cult priest, from santo, saint; see Santeria.] , a 79-year-old Northridge resident, brought along a photograph of himself with six of his brothers, all dressed in uniforms. Eight of his 10 brothers served in World War II, representing several branches of the military. The picture was taken in 1947, two years after the war ended. All eight brothers survived the war. Since then four have died. Santero said veterans events like the one Monday are getting smaller and smaller every year. ``A lot of World War II veterans are passing away. It decreases every year,'' Santero said. That's why he was particularly pleased that Post 193 is offering its relatively new commemoration of Pearl Harbor. ``I thought it was wonderful,'' Santero said. CAPTION(S): photo PHOTO (color) Francis Ford says it's important to understand what happened. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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