The 82nd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack was commemorated across the United States with various ceremonies and events. The National World War II Museum in New Orleans marked the occasion with a display of artifacts, photos, and personal accounts of the attack. The museum also unveiled a new three-story pavilion, the Liberation Pavilion, which documents the end of World War II, the Holocaust, and the war's continuing impact today.
In addition to the museum's commemoration, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation declaring December 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Services and ceremonies were held at the National Pearl Harbor Memorial in Honolulu, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, and the USS Arizona Memorial.
The USS Arizona, which was hit four times during the attack and subsequently sank, had 37 pairs or trios of brothers on board. Tragically, 23 sets of brothers were killed in the attack. Today, oil still leaks from the wreckage of the USS Arizona, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost.
Among the attendees of the commemorations were centenarian survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack. One such survivor, Ira 'Ike' Schab, now 103, shared his experience of the attack and the strength he found to lift heavy ammunition boxes. As the generation of Pearl Harbor survivors continues to fade away, their stories and sacrifices are being highlighted and remembered.
The attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to America's entry into World War II, remains a significant event in U.S. history. The commemorations serve as a reminder of the need to defend democracy and protect human rights, as emphasized by the executive director of the National World War II Museum.