[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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