One last roll call for the survivors of Pearl Harbor attack

December 7th, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, as President Roosevelt characterized it, plunged the United States fully into WWII. On this day, 65 years later, the surviving members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association are making their final trip back to Pearl Harbor, to remember and honor their fallen comrades.

This, they say, will be their final farewell.

With their number quickly dwindling, survivors of Pearl Harbor will gather today one last time to honor those killed by the Japanese 65 years ago ...

The Association has met every five years since its' inception, and all of the members of the group are now in their 80's and 90's, and most don't expect to live to see the seventieth anniversary. That's the way life is, but I fear that as these brave men pass, the memory of that fateful day will also pass into the pages of history, and out of our consciousness.

That would be a shame, as remembering what happened on December 7th, 1941 reminds us all to be alert to the dangers in this world, and to always be ready to defend the nation, and stand for freedom over tyranny.

Nearly 500 survivors from across the nation were expected to make the trip to Hawaii, bringing with them 1,300 family members, numerous wheelchairs and too many haunting memories.

Memories were vivid of the shocking, two-hour aerial raid that destroyed or heavily damaged 21 ships and 320 aircraft, that killed 2,390 people and wounded 1,178 others, that plunged the United States into World War II and that set in motion the events that led to atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

"I suspect not many people have thought about this, but we're witnessing history," said Daniel Martinez, chief historian at the USS Arizona Memorial. "We are seeing the passing of a generation."

The survivors say they have more than horrific memories to offer. "Remember Pearl Harbor" is just the first half of the association's motto; the rest is "Keep America alert."

Tom Brokaw called those who came of age during WWII "The Greatest Generation", which I agree with, and what Mr. Martinez said is also true. We are seeing the passing of this generation. I just hope we don't forget the lessons learned on that fateful day of infamy. As a veteran of the US Navy who was stationed on a ship home ported in Pearl Harbor, this day, and this story especially, is particularly poignant for me.

Remember Pearl Harbor!