A Date which will live in infamy...

[cubbingcarol]

Lest we forget.

 

Carol

[orennoah]

We had a moment of silence at today's Troop meeting. We remembered.

 

However, both of my children reported that no one at school (Jr. High & High School) mentioned Pearl Harbor today, not even their History instructors. For shame.

[SemperParatus]

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Speech

December 8, 1941

 

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

 

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

 

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

 

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

 

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

 

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

 

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

 

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

 

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

 

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

 

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

 

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

 

 

[acco40]

Each generation has their collective memory. Your great-grandparents are probably stunned that nobody "Remember(s) the Maine."

 

For me, rest in peace Dr. Winston O'Boogie.

[Kahuna]

Strange connection. Had Dr. Winston been more than a baby on December 7, 1941, he probably would have written a song explaining why we shouldn't go to war with Japan.

 

"Imagine there's no enemy, I wonder if you can . . ." (This message has been edited by Kahuna)

[frankj]

to orennoah:

 

Ditto for my son's 10th grade history class. I read your post and asked him, his answer, "Not a word, but I knew it was Pearl Harbor day."

 

 

The world history class is on the Roman Empire at present, so maybe they didn't want to jump ahead, even for a few minutes.

 

This is a school that showed the movie Schindler's List to classes one year. A segment of the school was taking standardized tests and the movie was to occupy the kids who were not being tested. In the permission slip they sent home for parents to sign, the TEACHERS who wrote the movie description called it "A story about a man who is determined to make a profit from the Nazis during World War II."

 

Didn't mean to change the subject from Pearl Harbor, just got carried away.

 

 

[stlscouter]

...but then again no one here replied or read the Veterans day post here either.

 

 

[SeattlePioneer]

Re: Veterans Day

 

 

A local retailer specializing in home woodworking equipment had a special event on Veterans Day that our troop attended.

 

Those attending got a small block of fine wood to turn on a lathe into the barrel of a writing pen. After turning with a chisel, it was sanded and finished on the lathe, then the guts of the pen were inserted. The participants then wrote a note and sealed the pen in a plastic envelope, for shipment to a US service person overseas.

 

This was a very nice act of generosity on the part of the retailer and a volunteer group that coached and supervised children doing the pen project.

 

Sorry I ran out of time before posting on the Veteran's Day thread....

 

 

 

Seattle Pioneer

 

 

[orennoah]

Our troop put out and later took in some 300+ flags, all along the main roads through town on Veteran's Day.

[cubbingcarol]

Another year has come and gone. Now it has been 65 years today. Let us remember not only those that were there that fateful day, but all military personel past and especially present in our prayers.

 

Carol

[SSScout]

 

For your "free" time::::

 

DAY OF DECEIT by Robert Stinnett

 

AT DAWN WE SLEPT by Gordon Prang, et al

[FScouter]

In no way seeking to offend anyone, but I sometimes wonder why we like to remember terrible events. I wonder if every year the Japanese remember the day Hiroshima was destroyed. I suppose they do, but why?

[SSScout]

So that someday, maybe, our grandchildren will finally learn from our grandparents mistakes (because we can't seem to).

[scoutingagain]

Spent much of the day on a plane today watching the history channel which pretty much dedicated most of it's progaming to Pearl Harbor & WWII. Both my father and father-in-law are WWII vets and I couldn't help thinking about how much we as a country and subsequent generations owe our parents or grandparents. They saved the world from unspeakable evil. Nothing less.

 

Our generation and our children see Star Wars & Lord of the Rings as fanstasy adventure. Our parents and grandparents lived the conflict. Thousands of their friends and family members died in a world conflict. We owe them more than we can ever understand or appreciate. God has a special place for them I'm sure.

 

Next time you or one of your scouts whines about some ole guy or gal in his/her 80's or 90's remind them they were once valiant warriors who saved the world. And make no mistake, anyone from that generation contributed in some fashion, whether they stay home and grew a victory garden or stormed the beaches of Normandy. We owe them our very way of life.

 

SA

[packsaddle]

Scoutingagain, my father and father-in-law as well. When I questioned him, a Baptist minister a while back informed me that both of those men (and, I guess me too, eventually) were in hell. Stuff like that really sticks in my mind for some reason.