Thursday marks the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Keesler Air Force Base will be hosting a ceremony to commemorate and honor the 2,403 people that died in the attack on December 7, 1941.
AG-1 Ian Smith said that the ceremony does more than honor the victims, but it also gives up and coming members of the Navy a history lesson that they will carry with them throughout their service and beyond.
“The purpose of the ceremony is not just for the VIPs that show up, but also for our junior sailors who are coming up. They are going to take this experience and hopefully learn from it, gain some knowledge and be able to pass it down. As we’ve gone through the years, some of that knowledge has been lost through the decades and it’s good to keep these traditions on because everything that has happened since that day has molded and shaped the history, traditions, and the way that the Navy operates globally.”
The ceremony will consist of several accounts of what took place on that tragic day, and how its events shaped the future of the armed forces and the United States. A moment of silence will also be held to honor those who died.
Smith pointed that the attack was not only an attack on the Navy, but also Marine and Air Force troops stationed at Pearl Harbor. Representatives from both the Marines and the Air Force will speak to what type of impact the attack had on the country and all branches of the US military. Chief Drew Ribar added that having these branches come together for the ceremony is a great way to learn and honor the history of each branch.
“When we have events like this it’s important to invite our friends from the Marines and the Air Force, so we can all be together and learn together about our heritage.”
While the ceremony won’t be open to the public, photos and videos will be released by Keelser after the event has concluded.
