Today being Pearl Harbor day I can not but think of my father. I am also reminded of the countless others that were brought into the struggle. On a Sunday morning those planes swept in and commenced to just bomb. Then some looped around and raced across the naval station guns blazing strafing anything and everything in sight. What a horrific sight that must have been. My father was not there, by the grace of God, and so was spared that. As far as I am aware I had no family member on that base. That was seventy three years ago today.
The memory is fading. The survivors are becoming few. A passage into history is taking place and I am keenly aware. I can only guess at the emotions those present must feel today. Especially so those that went on to fight. Young men now grown old. Warriors once, but the battle has been won. Surely they carry the pride of victory in their hearts and justifiedly so.
I think many of us fail to recognize the context in which this event took place. This was a time before television. The only world or national news you heard was on the radio, if you had one. No internet. Newspapers and magazines kept you up to date. There was no radar stations, no early warning systems. Imagine, if you will, sitting at home on the east coast of the country and hearing that news. Pearl Harbor has been attacked ! Where are the Japanese now ? Are they off our coast and preparing another assault ? You have no real time information, no clue. Surely the anxiety level had to be way up there. Anxiety and anger ! You would have heard of the attack and then the President giving his speech to congress. You would have heard those now famous words, a day that will live in infamy. About an hour following that speech the Congress of the United States of America declared war on imperial Japan, Germany and Italy. On June 2, 1942 congress also declared war upon Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. There has been no declaration of war made since that time. Not one.
Things have not been so clear cut since that time.
Those returning from that war seldom spoke of the battle. It was only discussed in smoke filled rooms and in hushed tones. Whatever mental issues those returning soldiers suffered with was their own. Yes there were parades and celebrations. Our veterans were honored, for a while. Then as time passed their contributions became more of a piece of history, now they are being slowly absorbed. Those young men, barely more than boys, were tempered in the fire of war and prevailed. Hollywood and time has shown many portrayals of their deeds. Some names remain a part of our discussion today, men like Patton and Eisenhower. Both were generals and one would become president. So many conflicts have followed but none have been declared War. They were labeled that after the fact but not by Congress, by politicians. Yes, when it comes to death and dying semantics matter little but it is a fact. On this day seventy three years ago we were attacked. The following day we declared war. Hasn't happened since ! And so now the combatants in that war are becoming few. It was the generation of my father. My own dad has long since passed but I remember. It is our lot to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to heroes is never easy. I will carry the memory for them, as best I can.
The memory is fading. The survivors are becoming few. A passage into history is taking place and I am keenly aware. I can only guess at the emotions those present must feel today. Especially so those that went on to fight. Young men now grown old. Warriors once, but the battle has been won. Surely they carry the pride of victory in their hearts and justifiedly so.
I think many of us fail to recognize the context in which this event took place. This was a time before television. The only world or national news you heard was on the radio, if you had one. No internet. Newspapers and magazines kept you up to date. There was no radar stations, no early warning systems. Imagine, if you will, sitting at home on the east coast of the country and hearing that news. Pearl Harbor has been attacked ! Where are the Japanese now ? Are they off our coast and preparing another assault ? You have no real time information, no clue. Surely the anxiety level had to be way up there. Anxiety and anger ! You would have heard of the attack and then the President giving his speech to congress. You would have heard those now famous words, a day that will live in infamy. About an hour following that speech the Congress of the United States of America declared war on imperial Japan, Germany and Italy. On June 2, 1942 congress also declared war upon Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania. There has been no declaration of war made since that time. Not one.
Things have not been so clear cut since that time.
Those returning from that war seldom spoke of the battle. It was only discussed in smoke filled rooms and in hushed tones. Whatever mental issues those returning soldiers suffered with was their own. Yes there were parades and celebrations. Our veterans were honored, for a while. Then as time passed their contributions became more of a piece of history, now they are being slowly absorbed. Those young men, barely more than boys, were tempered in the fire of war and prevailed. Hollywood and time has shown many portrayals of their deeds. Some names remain a part of our discussion today, men like Patton and Eisenhower. Both were generals and one would become president. So many conflicts have followed but none have been declared War. They were labeled that after the fact but not by Congress, by politicians. Yes, when it comes to death and dying semantics matter little but it is a fact. On this day seventy three years ago we were attacked. The following day we declared war. Hasn't happened since ! And so now the combatants in that war are becoming few. It was the generation of my father. My own dad has long since passed but I remember. It is our lot to say goodbye. Saying goodbye to heroes is never easy. I will carry the memory for them, as best I can.
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