~*`Welcome To 'My Never Ending Circle Of Love`*~... ..`By `Janie/mjfb1954`
PEARL HARBOR VETS HONORED ON 71ST ANNIVERSARY!
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Pearl Harbor Vets Honored on 71st Anniversary of Attack:
AP Photo: Eugene Tanner. Pearl Harbor Remembered:
Pearl Harbor Survivor Sam Clower, left, of Sacramento, Calif.
and Ab Brum, right, retired United States Army Special Forces,
of Kaneohe, Hawaii,
share memories of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Friday.
Image| By Audrey McAvoy
A moment of silence was observed at 7:55 a.m.
local time on Friday,
marking the moment the 1941 bombing began.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — More than 2,000 people
at Pearl Harborand many more around the country
are marking the 71st anniversary of the
Japanese attack that killed thousands of people
and launched the United States into World War II.
The USS Michael Murphy, a recently christened ship
named after a Pearl Harbor-based Navy SEAL
killed in Afghanistan, sounded its ship's whistle
Friday to start a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m.,
marking the exact time the bombing began in 1941.
Crew members lined the edge of the Navy guided-missile
destroyer in the harbor where the USS Arizona and
USS Utah, battleships that sank in the attack, still lie.
Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 fighter jets flew overhead
in a special "missing man" formation to break the silence.
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`REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR ATTACK```DEC..07..1941..
*'IN TRIBUTE'*
"Let us remember that this is where it all began.
Let us remember that the arc of history was bent
at this place 71 years ago today and a generation
of young men and women reached deep and rose up
to lead our nation to victory,
" Rhea Suh, Interior Department assistant secretary,
told the crowd. "Let us remember and be forever grateful
for all of their sacrifices."
About 30 survivors, many using walkers and canes,
attended the commemoration.
Edwin Schuler, of San Jose, Calif., said he remembered
going up to the bridge of his ship, the USS Phoenix,
to read a book on a bright, sunny Sunday morning in 1941
when he saw planes dropping bombs.
"I thought: 'Whoa, they're using big practice bombs.'
I didn't know," said Schuler, 91.
Schuler said he's returned for the annual ceremony
about 30 times because it's important to spread
the message of remembering Pearl Harbor.
Ewalt Shatz, 89, said returning to Pearl Harbor
"keeps the spirit going,
the remembering of what can happen."
Shatz, who now lives in Riverside, Calif., was on board
the USS Patterson that morning when the alarm sounded.
His more experienced shipmates were down below
putting a boiler back together so Shatz found him
manning a 50-caliber machine gun for the first time.
The Navy credited him with shooting a Japanese plane.
"That was some good shooting," said U.S. Pacific Fleet
Commander Adm. Cecil Haney who recounted Shatz' experience
in the keynote address. "Thank you for your courage
and tenacity — our nation is truly grateful."
Online, Pearl Harbor became a popular topic on Facebook
and other social networks, trending worldwide on Twitter
and Google Plus as people marked the anniversary with
status updates, personal\ of family and photos.
The Navy and National Park Service, which is part of
the Interior Department, hosted the ceremonies held
in remembrance of the 2,390 service members
and 49 civilians killed in the attack.
Friday's event gave special recognition to members of
the Women Airforce Service Pilots, who flew noncombat
missions during World War II, and to Ray Emory,
a 91-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor who has pushed
to identify the remains of unknown servicemen.
The ceremony also includes a Hawaiian blessing,
songs played by the U.S. Pacific Fleet band
and a rifle salute from the U.S. Marine Corps.
President Barack Obama marked the day on Thursday
by issuing a presidential proclamation,
calling for flags to fly at half-staff on Friday
and asking all Americans to observe the day of
remembrance and honor military service members
and veterans.
"Today, we pay solemn tribute to America's sons
and daughters who made the ultimate sacrifice
at Oahu," Obama said in a statement.
"As we do, let us also reaffirm that their legacy
will always burn bright — whether in the memory
of those who knew them, the spirit of service that
guides our men and women in uniform today, or the
heart of the country they kept strong and free."
Daniel Inouye, Hawaii's senior U.S. senator
and a member of an Army unit of Japanese-Americans
who volunteered to fight in World War II, said
the Pearl Harbor attack evoked anger,
fierce patriotism and racism.
"Our way of life has always, and will always be,
protected and preserved by volunteers
willing to give their lives for what we believe in,"
the Democrat said.
The Navy and park service will resume taking visitors
to the USS Arizona Memorial, which sits atop
the sunken battleship, after the ceremony.
AS REPORTED BY MSN NEWS
`reporter unknown!
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MSN News Article
Presented by:
\Poetrypoem Prime Poetess:/
07/Dec/2012
Janie/mjfb1954
`IN GOD WE TRUST!