A Date That Will Live in Infamy

Sorry folks I was a bit late on this. Had some issues to deal with that took up most of my day. Anyways, PLEASE do not forget what happened 68 years ago today. Never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this great country! Thank you all!!!
For a brief history lesson as told by the Southtown Observer... I usually dont like any of these damn local rags, but this was a nice article.
Today marks the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that left 2,403 American military personnel and civilians dead.

Army veteran Arturo Del Monaco vividly remembers the effects of the Dec. 7 assault. He was a high school student, and two older friends went down with the USS Arizona.

THE ATTACK
At 7:02 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, radar at the Opana Radar Station on Oahu picked up a large number of planes in the sky. Alarms weren't raised as officers on duty expected a squadron of American planes from California about this same time.

At 7:55 a.m., the first wave of 183 Japanese planes attacked the American ships in Pearl Harbor and the planes at three nearby airfields. A second wave of 167 planes followed about an hour later.

In the harbor, 21 of the 96 ships at anchor were sunk, and many others were severely damaged.

Of the 394 planes at Hickam, Wheeler and Bellows airfields, 188 were destroyed and 159 were damaged.

The death total was 2,403 (including 68 civilians). The wounded numbered 1,178.


"They are still there," Monaco, 86, said, sadly.

Monaco was one of two World War II veterans on hand Sunday for a memorial to remember Pearl Harbor Day at the Woodridge Public Library.

Organized by Woodridge VFW Post 1578, the event featured speakers, a replaying of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to Congress in which he called Dec. 7 "a day which will live in infamy" and a reading of a proclamation by President Obama urging "all Americans to observe this somber day of remembrance."

Lining the wall of the meeting room was a photo montage depicting the fiery effects of the Japanese attack on the Navy fleet.

"It brings back a lot of memories," said Burt Names, 87, who served in the South Pacific on the USS White Plains, a Navy carrier.

Many in attendance listened in rapt attention as the two veterans casually talked to each other about their years of service.

It was oral history in action. As the number of living World War II veterans dwindles, keeping the history of the conflict alive is something both veterans think about.

Del Monaco, who served in north Africa, China and India, said, "I'm afraid it's all going to get lost in history."

Del Monaco's 14-year-old grandson, Alex, was in the audience. Asked if he was there voluntarily, he smiled and said, "I was kind of dragged here." But he was glad he came:

"I do think it's important, but schools don't teach the history of the war in detail. It's important to hear these personal details from people who were actually there."

The soft-spoken Names said his grandchildren keep asking him about his experiences.

"I've written a synopsis of my experience for them," Names said. "As veterans, we have seen firsthand the tremendous cost of freedom."

The Woodridge VFW Post plans to keep doing its part to keep the memories alive. This was its 11th annual memorial.

"If we don't do it, I don't know of anyone else who will," said post member Bob Reichert. "It's a day that changed the lives of every generation that followed."
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