Pearl Harbor Memorial in O'Fallon, MO honors American lives lost
World War II veterans, civilians, and military families gathered at the Mid America Veterans Museum in O'Fallon, Missouri to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, with a solemn ceremony and a reading of the names of all 2,403 Americans killed on December 7, 1941.
O'FALLON, Mo. -- Communities across the nation honored the 83rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, reflecting on the event that changed the course of history.
In O’Fallon, Missouri, World War II veterans, civilians, and military families gathered at the Mid America Veterans Museum for a solemn Pearl Harbor Day Memorial. The day began with a flagpole ceremony, followed by a moving indoor tribute where the names of all 2,403 Americans killed on December 7, 1941, were read—a process that took nearly four hours.
Two World War II veterans who were stationed at Pearl Harbor after the attacks were in attendance, adding poignancy to the commemoration. Attendees also viewed a relic from the superstructure of the USS Arizona, a vessel that bore the brunt of the attack, losing nearly half of the day’s casualties aboard.
The event, presented by the Emerson Marshall Sherwood American Legion Post 213 and co-sponsored with the Mid America Veterans Museum, paid tribute to those lost, including 32 individuals from the greater St. Louis area and 140 from Missouri.
Flags across the nation were flown at half-staff to mark this day of remembrance, a reflection of the enduring legacy of “a date which will live in infamy.”
What's Your Reaction?
