Pearl Harbor Day, December 7

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December 7th is a day to remember because it is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. That date is now known as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack lasted two hours and killed 2,403 American troops and civilians, destroyed nearly 20 naval vessels and more than 300 airplanes, and severely damaged the fleet. More than 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships, the USS Arizona and the USS Utah. Just a few days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, bringing the country into a global war. Then, on June 7, 1942, they invaded Alaska. We got past this, but we need to remember that America is not invulnerable. We were attacked again on Sept. 11, 2001. We must remember those who gave their lives on those dates.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day was officially declared by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, and the United States Congress agreed to celebrate it every year in 1994. On December 7 each year, people gather to honor the victims of the attack and remember that day.