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By Al Everson
posted Dec 16, 2008 - 2:49:11pm
A small group of young and old paused to "remember Pearl Harbor" in ceremonies in Orange City 67 years to the day after the Japanese attack that brought the United States into World War II. In calling upon the Congress to declare war against Japan, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called Dec. 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy."
More than 2,400 American armed-forces personnel and civilians lost their lives in the aerial assault on naval and air installations on Oahu, Hawaii. Organized by the Veterans Community Education Partnership, West Volusia's observance of Pearl Harbor Day took place at Veterans Memorial Park in Orange City.
Major Mick Cotten, USMC (Ret.), chairman of the Veterans Community Education Partnership, recalled the attack.
"The shock and anger caused by the attack on Pearl Harbor united a divided nation," said Cotten. "We salute especially those who served, and especially those who did not return."
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America's oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, living his 100th year is former enlisted Chief Petty Officer, Aviation Chief Ordnanceman (ACOM), later wartime commissioned Lieutenant John W. Finn, USN (Ret.). He is also the last surviving Medal of Honor, "The Day of Infamy", Japanese Attack on the Hawaiian Islands, Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941.
'Navy Centenarian Sailor', 103 year old, former enlisted Chief Petty Officer, Aviation Chief Radioman (ACRM, Combat Aircrewman), later wartime commissioned Chief Warrant Officer Julio 'Jay' Ereneta, U. S. Navy (Ret.) is a thirty year career veteran of World War One and World War Two. He first flew aircrewman in August 1922; flew rearseat radioman/gunner in the 1920s/1930s air squadrons of the Navy's first aircraft carriers, USS LANGLEY (CV-1) and USS LEXINGTON (CV-2).
Visit my photo album tribute to these veteran shipmates:
http://news.webshots.com/album/141695570BONFYl
http://news.webshots.com/album/123286873BFAAiq
San Diego, California
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