Statement by Secretary R. James Nicholson on Pearl Harbor Day

WASHINGTON – "Few days in American history are burned into our national consciousness like December 7. On this date 64 years ago, the American fleet at Pearl Harbor suffered a crippling blow. More than 2,300 soldiers, sailors and Marines were lost, and the nation was thrust headlong into the largest global conflict in human history.

Today, it is the stalwart veteran survivors of Pearl Harbor who remind us not only of this solemn chapter in the American story, but also of the great courage and resolve that continues to define us as a Nation.

United with partners like the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs remains committed to serving these American heroes and all Veterans, as well as preserving the memory of those who paid the ultimate price at Pearl Harbor. We salute their valor and sacrifice, and we honor the fighting spirit of those who emerged from the smoldering wreckage of Pearl Harbor to triumph in the battle against tyranny in the Pacific.

We also pause to salute the courageous people of the Hawaiian Islands for whom December 7, 1941, was not just a surprise attack on the forces of the United States military, but an unprovoked attack on their homeland. Despite its status as a U.S. territory, Hawaii and its citizens responded with great fortitude and determination, many serving with distinction in the U.S. military.

For all Americans, Pearl Harbor Day should inspire us to remember the precious gift of freedom that has been handed from one generation to the next for more than 229 years."

SOURCE: VNIS -American Forces Press Service