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Wreath ceremony marks Pearl Harbor

Representatives from many area military fraternal organizations and military veterans gathered at Point Park Wednesday to commemorate the 75th anniversay of the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought America into World War II. Those assembled dropped wreaths into the Ohio River to honor the fallen and each branch of the service and local veteran organizations. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor was commemorated in Parkersburg on Wednesday.

Local veteran organizations, veterans, elected officials and others gathered at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1212 on Garfield Ave. for a reception and then a number gathered at Point Park to lay wreathes in the Ohio River to honor the fallen as well as each branch of the service and local veteran organizations.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, forces with the Empire of Japan launched a suprise attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which brought the United States fully into World War II.

Lisa Small, commander of VFW Post 1212, said Dec. 7 has a special meaning for her as it was the day her grandfather, a Navy veteran, passed away and it is also they day she graduated from Basic Training from the United States Air Force.

”I think it is important we get the community involved to remember the stories of the war so we can avoid having history repeat itself,” she said. ”I think it is important to remember those who fought so bravely and sacrifice their lives so we could have the freedoms and be able to live the way we do today.”

Greg Smith, commander of VFW Post 8127, was the featured speaker for the reception and laid the wreath honoring the U.S. Air Force of which he was a 22-year veteran.

Smith talked about the importance of remembering what happened at Pearl Harbor.

”If we don’t remember those times in our history where we fought for our freedom and Americans entered the war, if we forget then we are doomed to repeat it,” he said. ”Lest we forget (borrowing the phrase from the POW-MIA flag).”

People remember those who lost their lives that day and in the battles that followed throughout World War II, but there was also a spirit that showed through after the attack that carried Americans throughout the war that brought people together to win the war.

”The biggest miracle of Pearl Harbor was that America got together to work together,” Smith said. ”In Pearl Harbor itself, it was the mechanics, the electricans, the metal workers and everyone else…they put every battleship back together and got them afloat, except for two – the Arizonia and the Oklahoma.

”That was a tremendous American effort for freedom along with all of the soliders who fought and died in all the substiquent battles all because of what happened at Pearl Harbor. Lest we forget. Let us remember for our generation now, the few Pearl Harbor survivors and to the next generation. Let us remember what it took for us to enjoy the freedoms we have today.”

Pearl Harbor was the first time for many that showed America was vunerable to attack which still resonates to this day.

”With technology and different ways to attack, we need to remember that we are vulnerable, and lest we forget, for another surprise attack somewhere else,” Smith said. ”Pearl Harbor woke Americans up on how important it was to serve in the military.”

Bill Shepherd, Commander of American Legion Post 15 in Parkersburg, quoted President Franklin Delano Roosevelt saying Dec. 7, 1941 was “a day that will live in infamy.”

”You cannot forget,” he said. ”We have too many people now who have forgotten what has happened.

”This country has the freedom it does, because people fought for it. We can’t forget any of it. It is important to all of us and people need to remember.”

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