December 7, 2011 – Seventy years ago today in 1941, in a daring surprise attack the Japanese boldly bombed the American soldiers and their naval fleet by air and by sea. Despite servicemen jumping to action and returning fire with anti-aircraft guns, the unexpected assault left 2,390 Americans dead more than half of whom were aboard the battleship USS Arizona which was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine early in the strike. 1,778 people were injured.

Twelve United States warships were destroyed along with 323 aircraft that day turning an impressive military fleet based on the Pacific Rim into a crippled fraction of what it was before Pearl Harbor Day. The one battleship able to get out of the harbor safely during the attack, the USS Phoenix, was an important target the Japanese regretted missing in the two hour assault.

Today on the island of Oahu, a ceremony is being held in remembrance of the American soldiers and civilians who died that day. There will be a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. that marks the time the Japanese first flew over the base to launch the unexpected attack on the men and women on Pearl Harbor. Those in attendance will be veterans still alive today and their relatives and various elected officials and public figures. One hundred veterans of both World War II and Pearl Harbor will end in a “walk of honor.”

Ameriborn News asks everyone to please take a moment today to remember the fallen heroes on this seventy year anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, and all of our fine veterans for serving to keep our country free.