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The Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony commenced in Hawaii on Sunday with a poignant moment of silence at precisely 7:55 a.m., marking the exact time the devastating Japanese attack began on December 7, 1941.
This yearly event commemorated the 84th anniversary of the assault, which claimed the lives of over 2,300 military personnel and catapulted the United States into World War II.
“Through this commemoration, we acknowledge the significance of recalling that past moment when the prospects for peace were destroyed, thrusting our nation into a global conflict,” stated David Ono, who served as the master of ceremonies for the event.
Traditionally, survivors of the attack have been the focal point of the remembrance held at the military base’s waterfront. However, only 12 of these veterans remain today, all of whom are over 100 years old. Unfortunately, none could travel to Hawaii this year to participate, resulting in no attendees having lived memories of serving during the attack.
The USS Arizona Memorial stands as a solemn backdrop before the 84th anniversary of Pearl Harbor’s attack, captured on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)
In his remarks, Ono said the ceremony serves not only as a moment of reflection and gratitude but also as a call to action to build upon the solid foundation built by the Greatest Generation.
FILE – American ships burn during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo, File)
Survivors have been present every year in recent memory except for 2020, when the Navy and the National Park Service closed the observance to the general public because of coronavirus pandemic health risks.
FILE – Pearl Harbor survivors watch a vintage WWII airplane fly over Pearl Harbor at the ceremony commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 2013, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, File)
About 2,000 survivors attended the 50th anniversary event in 1991. A few dozen have shown in recent decades. Last year, only two made it. That is out of an estimated 87,000 troops stationed on Oahu that day.
