December 7, 1941.
Before Congress and the world, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared it to be ‘a date which will live in infamy.?
His now-famous words followed the dastardly sneak attack perpetrated by the Japanese Empire on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval station in Hawaii. More than 2,400 Americans were killed in the early morning raid and over 1,000 more were wounded.
Bloodied, shocked and enraged, the attack woke the sleeping giant from his isolationistic slumber and formally brought America into World War II.
On Friday, North Oakland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 334 and American Legion Post 108 hosted a ceremony in Oxford to remember this attack and pay tribute to all those it impacted. Candles were lit to honor the memory of all the army personnel, sailors, Marines and civilians killed that fateful day.
War stories were told. Prayers were said. Taps was played. We shall never forget.