The Day of Infamy...Lest we forget.

From generation to generation time changes the world...from telegraphing the Morse code to texting; the concept of travel to/from distant, remote lands to exploring unknown places of space. Yet, some things will never change. History and memories of life experiences will never change nor be forgotten! Perhaps they will never be fully understood for the generations to come, but history is history... not always a pretty sight but will always be remembered and told by those who experienced it.

I was seven years old on that fateful Sunday in December. It was evening time when the family gathered in front of the large Philco radio to listen to our favorite - Fibber McGee and Molly. Then, an interruption in the program with an announcement reporting the surprise attack by the Japanese having bombed the US Navy fleet and airplanes at Pearl Harbor in the early morning hours. I was an innocent child. What is war?... that word was not in my vocabulary. I had no idea where Hawaii was. Basically, I knew nothing of the world but soon realized that day, December 7, 1941, a life changing event took place.

The following morning, arriving at school after a long bus ride, our entire school walked in silence to a near-by church. There we recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; we were led in prayer and sang hymns...and were told the bits and pieces our teachers knew and understood of the situation across the Pacific. Through the static of the radio we heard President Roosevelt, with the approval of Congress, declare war on Japan...the United States' entry to World War II... "a date which will live in infamy".

Fast forward thirty-four years when we visited Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial for our first time. Those gathered for the boat ride to the Memorial consisted of Hawaiians, Japanese and Americans, most of them of the older generation. The emotions of the group were tears and low murmurs. For each one, this was a memory of love lost...a father, son, husband, brother, friend - on both sides of the aisle, so to speak.

A year or two has passed since we visited the Arizona once again, for at least the twentieth time. Some things have changed thru the years... yet the one thing - the main reason for being there - has not changed. The overall effect is a time of respect... a tribute of valor, honoring those who are entombed there. For some, the visit is a lifetime goal...for some, confirmation that life goes on...for some, to read a family member's name on the wall...for all, to know and remember history.

Read more at the Estes Park Trail Gazette