DEC. 7, 1941--"A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"

[Jasman0717 9]

The date is December 8, 1941 and President Roosevelt is preparing to address Congress. He begins: "Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." With that statement describing the attack on the U. S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, the United States was thrust into World War II. The first wave of Japanese aircraft attacked at 7:53 a.m. and by the end of the second wave at 9:45, the U. S. had suffered casualties of 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians while 1,178 were wounded. Of the dead, 1,177 were men stationed on the Battleship USS Arizona which was destroyed when a bomb hit the forward magazine starting a series of explosions. Eight Arizona residents were listed among the dead on the Arizona which was moored near Ford Island on that dreadful morning 65 years ago.

Today, the remains of the Arizona still lie in the same shallow water where she sat helpless during the attack of Pearl Harbor. In 1962, the Arizona was declared a national shrine and a memorial was built across her remains. A room within the shrine lists the names of the dead crew members and regular memorial services are performed to respect their memory. A new flag of the United States is raised each day above the site and at the end of the day is folded and given to various dignitaries.

Time has taken its toll on the memorial and in September, 2005, Governor Napolitano toured the site and pledged Arizona's help in raising $34 million to build a new visitors center. In the September 20, 2005 edition of The Arizona Republic, the Governor declared, "It's Arizona's battleship. When it was commissioned (1916), they broke not just a bottle of champagne over its bow but a bottle of water that had just come over the newly created Roosevelt Dam. We've always had a close connection with the USS Arizona." Governor Napolitano also declared 2006 as the , "Year of the USS Arizona Memorial." Many of the dead from the Arizona are still entombed within its hulk. Oil still seeps from the wreckage after 65 years and is sometimes referred to as "the tears of the Arizona." Each year the number of the survivors from the Arizona decreases and many have made arrangements to be cremated with their ashes placed by their fallen shipmates at the site. Many of these men believe that the oil will continue to leak until the last survivor dies.

Every President since Franklin D. Roosevelt and every Emperor of Japan since Hirohito has visited the site. All ships of the U. S. Merchant Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard show their respects by the tradition of "manning the rails." All personnel stand in silence at their ship's guard rails and salute the Arizona Memorial as they enter Pearl Harbor. It's a fitting tribute to a bunch of brave guys who fought to defend their country.

[Niels Bohr 72]

[Ban Hammer 14,686]

and the end

[Ling Ling 22]

Both of my grandfathers, as well as my father served in the US Military. WWII, Korea, Vietnam.

My eating habits are too picky to end up anywhere on the globe, so I decided to serve my country as a Police Officer for a while.

WWII was fcuked up, and war is fcuked up, PERIOD. There were great losses on both sides. Considerably more on the side of the Japanese.

The majority of the Japanese casualties were CIVILIANS. On a single day, Aug. 6, 1945, the US dropped Atomic bombs

on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing approximately 140,000 and 80,000 respectively.

My wife's mother was born in Hiroshima in 1944, fortunately she was one of a small group of children who were evacuated

from the city. I might sound selfish, but that war almost cost me my soulmate.

It's one thing to watch the movies and read about what happened, but when I was in Hiroshima earlier this year,

I had an opportunity to not only visit the museums, but to see an existing structure that survived the bombing.

The overall experience gave me a much greater appreciation for the devastation of war, and the importance of preserving human life.

I don't believe there are ever any true winners in a war, only casualties on both sides. I believe the world loses

whenever war breaks out anywhere, and wins (just a little bit) when peace is restored.

In 1991, the Doomsday clock indicated it's furthest position ever (since being created in 1947).

In 1991 it showed the 17 minutes before midnight, with midnight being the end of the world by way of "catastrophic destruction".

Since the bombing, Each mayor of Hiroshima has sent communications to world leaders each year, asking that they abolish their stock piles of nuclear weapons.

Today the Doomsday Clock (symbolically) shows only 5 minutes before midnight.

We need to constantly remember the losses on both sides, as well as the atrocities of both sides.

May the men and women lost on Dec. 7, 1941, as well as all military and and civilians lost in all wars, never be forgotten,

and may we hope for peace everyday. With this day also, may we especially think of the men and women fighting in

Afghanistan and Iraq. God bless America, and every country on Earth equally as well. As Americans, we are no more superior

to another countries citizens by random circumstance of our birth, and other citizens are no less superior by the random circumstance

of their nationality. We are all humans who must learn to live together. We have a long way to go, to keep the doomsday clock

from hitting midnight.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Flower floating in oil from the U.S.S. Arizona

Plaque commemorating the signing of the surrender document on the U.S.S. Missouri, ending WWII

View of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial from the U.S.S. Missouri

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

and the end

Sweet justice.