The USS Midway Museum commemorated the lives lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago in a Two-bell tap and a ceremonial wreath laying on Dec.7 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m before museum hours.
Commander of USS John Finn, Cmdr. Bralyn Cathey, was a guest speaker. Free admission was granted to visitors of the museum after the ceremony. Last year’s commemoration ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic.
“Today is a stark reminder of the planes, ships and lives lost. It is also a reminder of who we are as Americans. People who love this country, serve in this Navy and understand what it means to fight for other people,” Cmdr. Cathey said.
This was the first Pearl Harbor commemoration without longtime San Diego Resident, veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Stu Hedley who passed shortly before his 100th birthday due to COVID-19.
“I think there's a couple of things people should take away from the ceremony today. One, how much courage and bravery those in Pearl Harbor and all of those in WW2 had in defending Freedom in the United States. We also need to learn that freedom isn't free and we as Americans have to be ready,” CEO and President of San Diego Air and Space Museum Jim Kidrick publicly said.
Kidrick referenced a line by Stu Hedley,
“‘We always have to be alert. We always have to be ready’. I hope that is something people take away with them,” he said.
On Dec.7 1941, Japanese forces conducted a surprise attack just before 8 a.m on Pearl Harbor, a U.S naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base, where they destroyed or damaged nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. There were more than 2,400 Americans casualties, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded.
Members of the public may learn more about the attack on Pearl Harbor in online screening of the documentary Dec.7 aired by the National Archives Museum. The documentary was released by the U.S Navy, and won an academy award in 1944 for Best Documentary Short Subject.
