Rockville Centre pays tribute to veterans 77 years after Pearl Harbor attack

Posted

Veterans and other community members came together at Mill River Complex Park on Dec. 7 to remember those who died in the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and honor brave heroes.

Seventy-seven years ago to that day, the surprise military strike by the Japanese Navy Air Service at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii led to the United States’ entry into World War II.

“Most of the witnesses are no longer with us, but the legacy of the men and women who defended Pearl Harbor on that day always remains,” Frank Colon, commander of Rockville Centre’s American Legion Post 303, said to the attendees.

All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged during the attack, and four sunk. A total of 2,403 Americans were killed, and 1,178 others were wounded in the attack.

“Today, we remember a time of great evil in our world. We remember World War II,” said the Rev. William Koenig, rector of St. Agnes Cathedral. “We also remember those who stood their ground against evil, those who fought here at home and on the battle fronts to ensure that it would not prevail.”

Rockville Centre Fire Chief Brian Cook and veteran Walter Paruch, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1969 to 1971, threw a wreath into the nearby body of water, a national tradition in remembrance of the attack. Joseph Scarola, past commander of Post 303 played taps and Christina Pizzo-Buxton, of St. Agnes Cathedral, led the singing of “God Bless America.”

“For the United States, Pearl Harbor marked the beginning of a war. For Japan, it was the beginning of the end,” Colon said. “…And as I always state, if it wasn’t for the greatest generation, we’d either be speaking Japanese or German today.”