Remembering Pearl Harbor

Editor, The Friday Flyer:

Yes, remembering the impact of the 9/11 events at the twin towers in New York City should never be forgotten. However, an event that impacted the United States even more happened on Dec. 7, 1941. It is considered the one day they changed the course of the 20th century.

The Japanese Imperial Navy Air Force surprised and attacked the American forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On that day, the Japanese killed 2,400 Americans and injured 1,178 others. They sank four battleships and they damaged four others. Countless fighter planes were blown apart.

This one day plunged us into World War II. Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who planned this attack said, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” This was unmistakably a true statement. America proceeded to declare war on Japan and Nazi Germany.

It took nearly four years to bring Japan and Hitler’s Germany to surrender. 405,399 Americans lost their lives to save the world of tyranny. Also, there were millions of Jews who were enslaved and killed by the Germans.

We should never have forgotten that day. But we have. Time does that. And I am afraid that in 80 years the same will be done concerning Sept. 11, 2001.

– Paul Parque

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