North Shore veterans gather to honor the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor

As Americans, our heart bled that day, and it still hurts today.”

Richard LaMarca, clerk, Town of Oyster Bay

A crowd of veterans gathered at the waterfront in Oyster Bay on Dec. 7, holding a memorial event in muted honor for the brave sailors and servicemembers who were killed in a surprise attack by the Japanese Empire at the Pearl Harbor Navy base 82 years ago. The event, organized by AMVETS and VFW posts from Oyster Bay, Locust Valley, Bayville and other neighboring communities, gathered to remember the horrifying loss of life in the attack, and honor the lives of those who gave everything for their country.

In the tranquil waters of Oahu, a cataclysmic event unfolded on Dec. 7, 1941, altering the course of history and thrusting the United States into World War II. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, orchestrated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, sent shockwaves across the Pacific and left an indelible mark on the Hawaiian archipelago.

On that fateful Sunday morning, the serenity of the Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor was shattered by the thunderous roar of Japanese warplanes. In a meticulously coordinated assault, over 350 aircraft descended upon the unsuspecting naval base, unleashing a torrent of destruction that would claim the lives of more than 2,400 Americans and wound another 1,200.

The heart-wrenching toll included the sinking or crippling of eight battleships, among them the USS Arizona, whose haunting remains rest beneath the harbor’s surface as a solemn memorial.
The attack, a grievous blow to American military might in the Pacific, served as the catalyst for the United States’ entry into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s declaration that Dec. 7, 1941, would forever be “a date which will live in infamy” echoed through the nation, galvanizing a spirit of unity and resolve.

In the aftermath, Pearl Harbor underwent a profound transformation, evolving from a tranquil naval outpost to a symbol of resilience and determination. The rusting relics of the sunken battleships became silent witnesses to the bravery displayed by servicemen and civilians alike. Today, the USS Arizona Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by those who perished on that infamous day.

Bob Selby, of the North Shore Veterans Memorial Post, or AMVETS Post 21, in Oyster Bay, paid tribute to those same sacrifices while welcoming the crowd to the harbor. Despite a cold wind whipping through the event, attendees were transported to a tropical morning over 80 years ago as they reflected on the unsuspected attack and loss of life.

“One thing we all believe is that we will never forget and we will always remember this day, Dec. 7,” Selby said. “Today we honor those who lost their lives, and the survivors that had to go through their lives all those years, thinking about the horror of that day and the memories of their survival.”

The attendees listened to a recording of the National Anthem while the color guard proudly presented the American flag. The veterans were then each invited to take a rose, which they each threw into the water from the harbor in honor of the lives lost in Pearl Harbor nearly a century ago.

Members of the gathered posts also held a moment of silence following a gun salute, firing blanks out over the harbor. They reflected on both the memory of the attack, and on their own memories of war and loss.

Rich LaMarca, the town clerk of Oyster Bay, delivered the main speech for the event. LaMarca emphasized the importance of Pearl Harbor in national and world history, as the attack which directly led to the United States’ involvement in World War II.

“On that tragic day, when America was suddenly and deliberately attacked with a surprise air raid on Pearl Harbor, we lost heroes, we lost fathers, sons, mothers, daughters and we lost children,” LaMarca said. “As Americans, our heart bled that day, and it still hurts today.”

As the crowd gathered to leave chatting amiably amongst themselves, the cold air of the morning felt a little less biting as everyone was warmed by the memory of the sacrifice and honor of the brave people killed all those years ago in service to their country.