Today we remember the day "that will live in infamy."On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing more than 2,400 Americans and wounding 1,100.
The U.S.S. Arizona was completely destroyed and the U.S.S. Oklahoma capsized. The attack sank three other ships and damaged many additional vessels. More than 180 aircraft were destroyed.
The following day President Franklin Roosevelt, addressing a joint session of Congress, called December 7th "a date which will live in infamy." Declaring war against Japan, Congress ushered the United States into World War II and forced a nation, already close to war, to abandon isolationism. Within days, Japan's allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on the United States, and the country began a rapid transition to a war-time economy in building up armaments in support of military campaigns in the Pacific, North Africa, and Europe.
On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the lives lost in that horrific attack and salute the veterans of World War II. We also pay tribute to all those now serving America to advance freedom around the world.
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