It’s common for people to forget, for memories to dull and fade over time. We acknowledge losses, yet tend not to dive deep into reigniting the feelings and emotions that are necessary to always remember, and never forget.
Today, Pearl Harbor is front of mind for me. It is not December 7. It is Memorial Day, 24 hours and a long weekend dedicated to commemorating our fallen service members, and remembering their sacrifices.
I sat with my tea and decided to flip through some television channels when I happened upon the most recent film depicting Pearl Harbor. The scene showed the Japanese planes flying low en route to Battleship Row, their sneak attack on a quiet and peaceful Sunday morning, 1941. It’s hard to fathom but watching the film, I remember my grandfather saying they actually made eye contact with Japanese pilots – they were flying that low. To remember my grandfather, an 18 year old gunner, and his shipmates as well as other sailors roused from sleep and relaxation to all out war, it’s both horrifying and admirable. His survival is nothing short of a miracle.
The USS Nevada was the only ship to get underway then beach at Ford Island. My grandfather was burnt from the oil, washed ashore, and picked up by a family then transported to Tripler Army Medical Center. There are no words for what he and his fellow service members endured, and witnessed.
To visit Pearl Harbor with him three times, the first visit 59 years after the attack, were some of the most meaningful and special experiences of my lifetime. Sharing that time with him, listening to him open up some with other survivors was an honor and privilege. I miss him every day.
So for me, I will forever keep alive his story and never forget the ultimate sacrifice our service men and women made. This is how we show our respect for the fallen – and those who fought alongside them.
