President Joe Biden encouraged federal agencies and local communities nationwide to lower their flags in observance of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is why many flags in the US are flying at half-staff today.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed on Thursday, December 7, the anniversary of the attack in Hawaii that sparked America‘s entry into World War II.
The US Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was the target of a surprise attack by the Japanese military on December 7, 1941. Numerous military personnel and civilians lost their lives in the attack, while over a thousand people were injured. Additionally, American ships were sunk and aircraft were destroyed.
The United States entered World War II and declared war on Japan the following day.
Pearl Harbor has not been forgotten in the past 82 years.
What took place at Pearl Harbor?
On December 7, 1941, just after eight in the morning, Japanese aircraft overflew Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor and dropped bombs on American Pacific Fleet ships below.
Bombs rained down during the blitz attack, destroying ships and aircraft in their path and killing thousands of people. Over 1,000 men were killed when a 1,800-pound bomb struck the USS Arizona, causing it to explode and sink. This is according to a History Channel account of the attack. Significant damage was also caused by the attacks on the USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee, and USS Nevada.
To prevent America from being able to defend itself when Japanese forces crossed the South Pacific, the U.S. Pacific Fleet was to be destroyed.
America entered World War II as a result of the attack.
When is the National Day of Remembrance for Pearl Harbor?
Every year on December 7, the anniversary of the Japanese military attack on the naval base, it is observed. It wasn’t until 1994 that National Pearl Harbor Day was officially declared by public law.
American flags will be flown at half-staff on this national holiday, which will be observed in Hawaii and other communities across the nation.
What was the death toll from Pearl Harbor?
2,403 military personnel and civilians lost their lives in the attack in 1941, while 1,178 more were hurt. The National Park Service reports that 188 aircraft were destroyed along with two permanently sunk U.S. Navy battleships, the USS Arizona and the USS Utah.