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Valley remembers attack on Pearl
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PRESENTING THE WREATH: A wreath was placed at the base of the Mahoning County Veterans Monument for veterans of all wars during a service at the Canfield Fairgrounds to commemorate the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Carrying the wreath Monday are, from left, Raymond Braidich, Milton Kochert and Jan Brown.
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John P Brown III, former national commander, addresses the veterans who attended Pearl Harbor Day services at the Veterans Cabin at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
CANFIELD — Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, was remembered Monday by area veterans for the 2,403 who died in the attack, and so younger generations do not forget.
“It certainly is a day still alive in the memory of Americans. It shows what can happen and what we can get into — and what we must get into — to maintain our freedom,” said World War II Marine Glenn Buzzard of Hubbard.
“It is more important than ever that we keep the memory of Pearl Harbor alive and remain strong and protect our nation,” he said.
Buzzard was one of about 30 mostly military veterans who attended a service of remembrance Monday at the Mahoning Veterans Memorial on the Canfield Fairgrounds. Gov. Ted Strickland declared Monday Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and ordered flags on state buildings be flown at half-mast.
Sadly, the number of area Pearl Harbor survivors is becoming few, and none were able to attend Monday’s ceremony. They are getting frail, said John Brown III, past national commander of AMVETS, who conducted the service.
Part of the program was the playing of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech to Congress on Dec. 8, 1941, when he described the surprise attack a “date that will live in infamy” and asked the Congress to declare war on Japan.
“No matter how long it may take us, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory,” Roosevelt said.
“I think Roosevelt’s words stand true today. If today’s leaders had responded [to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon] like Roosevelt, I don’t think we’d be in the position we are in today,” Brown said.
Antonio Crespo, a retired naval chief torpedoman’s mate and former command chief at the Naval Reserve Center at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, was stationed for three years in Hawaii and visited Pearl Harbor museums many times.
“That’s when the tragedy of it all really hits. I’m younger, but I vow to keep Pearl Harbor fresh in people’s minds,” said Crespo, of Youngstown.
“I think the nation should have started selling bonds the way it did in WWII. That would keep the country involved,” said Raymond Braidich, a member of several veterans organizations, who worries that people not only forget Pearl Harbor but also the terrorists attacks on New York City and the Pentagon.
“We have this service to remind people of Pearl Harbor and that freedom is costly and must be cherished,” he said.
alcorn@vindy.com