[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 187 (Friday, December 7, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15010-S15011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page S15010]]
NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 395, which was
submitted earlier today.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the
resolution by title.
A resolution (S. Res. 395) expressing the sense of the
Senate regarding National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider
be laid upon the table, en bloc; that any statements relating thereto
be printed at the appropriate place in the Record as if read.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 395) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 395
Whereas on December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air
Force attacked the sovereign territory of the United States
at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;
Whereas more than 2,400 United States service members and
civilians were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor;
Whereas there are more than 4,900 members of the Pearl
Harbor Survivors Association;
Whereas the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor
will be December 7, 2007;
Whereas on August 23, 1994, Public Law 103-308 was enacted,
designating December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day; and
Whereas section 129(b) of title 36, United States Code,
requests that the President issue each year a proclamation
calling on the people of the United States to observe
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities, and all departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities of the Federal Government, and interested
organizations, groups, and individuals, to fly the flag of
the United States at half-staff each December 7 in honor of
the individuals who died as a result of their service at
Pearl Harbor: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate, on the occasion of the 66th
anniversary of the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, pays tribute to--
(1) the United States service members and civilians who
died in the attack; and
(2) the members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of National Pearl
Harbor Remembrance day. Earlier today, my good friend and colleague
Senator Inhofe and I introduced a Senate Resolution expressing the
sense of the Senate regarding National Pearl Harbor Remembrance day and
paying tribute to those servicemembers and civilians who died in the
attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, as well as the current
members of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association.
Today is the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Memorial
ceremonies are taking place at the Naval Station Pearl Harbor to
commemorate the 66th anniversary of the attack. Later, the dedication
ceremony for the new USS Oklahoma Memorial will also take place on Ford
Island at Pearl Harbor. The battleship Oklahoma was anchored along Ford
Island on December 7, 1941, and suffered the second greatest loss of
life during the attack after the USS Arizona. It is the last ship to
have been destroyed that fateful day to get its own memorial. Clearly,
this memorial is long overdue. Prayers, reflections, and tributes will
be offered during each of these ceremonies to honor the service and
sacrifice of the men and women who fought and died in the defense of
our great country.
This 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor also marks the
beginning of a new commemoration for all of our Nation's fallen, called
Old Glory's Journey of Remembrance. The journey begins today with Old
Glory being flown over the USS Arizona Memorial. The flag will then be
taken to, and flown over, 24 other military memorial sites around the
country. The journey culminates in observance of the National Moment of
Remembrance on Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time with Old Glory being
flown above the U.S. Capitol.
Mr. President, the resolution that I and Senator Inhofe introduced
requests that all of my Senate colleagues join together with our fellow
Americans in Hawaii and across the Nation to remember and honor the
more than 2,400 courageous American sailors, soldiers, and marines who
were killed in the raid on Pearl Harbor, as well as to honor those who
survived the attack.
For those too young to remember 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor is
something learned in history books. But to those in Hawaii who, like
myself, witnessed the attack, the events of December 7 are a painful,
vivid memory, and a personal experience that can never be forgotten.
While the Japanese surprise attack was a calamity that forever changed
the course of history, our country fought back in the name of justice
to preserve our Nation's sacred freedoms. I urge the citizens of this
Nation to remember that it was the sacrifices made by ordinary men and
women who rallied in defense of freedom, liberty, and the great promise
of our democracy that preserved our Nation's freedom and liberty. Their
sacrifices represent the greatest heroism and patriotism in the service
of our country.
Mr. President, I hope that my Senate colleagues will join me today in
prayer and remembrance for those courageous men and women who died in
Pearl Harbor on that infamous day.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, every American owes a debt of gratitude to
the men and women who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl
Harbor. They gave all they had in selfless service to the Nation. We
recognize the contributions and sacrifice of the survivors of the
attack who went on to secure our freedom and our cherished way of life.
In the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges and countless
unknowns, they never demanded praise, they never presumed eminence.
They taught future generations the importance of recognizing and
remaining vigilant against tyranny in all forms. We also remember the
families of the fallen service members. They bore the greatest burden
and bravely perpetuated the dignity and the memories of the heroes
taken from us on that infamous day.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to speak for a moment in
remembrance of the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and
pay tribute to all the Americans who lost their lives that day.
On December 7, 1941, our Nation was brutally attacked at Pearl
Harbor, and over 2,400 Americans were killed. Though surprised and
overwhelmed by wave after wave of Japanese planes, the members of our
armed forces valiantly defended their ships, the naval base and the
surrounding army air fields.
I believe Pearl Harbor will all always hold a prominent place in the
history of the United States, not only for the destruction that day
which triggered our entry into the Second World War, but as a shining
example of American heroism and courage in the face of adversity. I
know Americans will never forget the American servicemen and women who
were at Pearl Harbor 66 years ago today.
One of those servicemen was John Anderson of Roswell, NM. John had
only recently been assigned to the USS Arizona along with his twin
brother Jake when the Japanese attacked on December 7. Though burned
himself, John worked to rescue other survivors from the badly damaged
and sinking Arizona until the small boat he and other servicemen were
using to pull drowning men from the water of the harbor was also sunk.
Terribly, 1,177 sailors from the Arizona, including John's brother
Jake, did not survive.
John went on to serve 35 years in the Navy, marry his wife, Karolyn,
have three sons and later become the long time weatherman for KBIM-TV
in Roswell. I would like to thank John for his brave service and would
like to personally honor all the New Mexicans like Jake Anderson who
fought and lost their lives that day.
Pearl Harbor, of course, was just the beginning of several long years
of war during which millions of Americans would answer the call of
duty. I would like to take this opportunity to mention the service and
sacrifice of two such groups of individuals.
One of these groups is the Navajo Code Talkers, many of whom were
from my home State. The Code Talkers were marines who used their native
language to quickly transmit messages
[[Page S15011]]
across the battlefields of the Pacific Theater and served in every
Marine division from 1942 to the end of the war. Though the Japanese
were able to break many American codes during the war, they were never
able to decipher the system used by the Code Talkers. Their
contribution to victory cannot be underestimated. There is no doubt
that their efforts saved countless American lives, and it has even been
said that without the Code Talkers the battle of Iwo Jima could not
have been won.
I would also like to talk about the soldiers of the 200th and 515th
Coastal Artillery units of the New Mexico National Guard, also known as
the New Mexico Brigade, who soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor
played a prominent and heroic role in the fierce fighting in the
Philippines. For 4 months the men of the New Mexico Brigade helped hold
off the Japanese only to be defeated by disease, starvation and a lack
of ammunition. Sadly, the survivors of the Battle of Bataan from the
New Mexico Brigade were subjected to the horrors and atrocities of the
65 mile ``Death March,'' as well as years of hardship and forced labor
in Japanese prisoner of war camps. Tragically, of the 1,800 men of the
New Mexico Brigade more than 900 never returned home.
In closing, I hope New Mexicans will take a moment to honor the
individuals who fought so gallantly 66 years ago today as well as all
those who served throughout the Second World War, and remember those
who paid the ultimate price for our Nation.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Rhode Island.
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