The American uniformed personnel stationed in Oahu, Hawaii, 71 years ago today were awakened from their Sunday slumber with an unprovoked attack at 7:48 a.m. Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (12:48 p.m. Eastern Standard Time).
The island paradise became the target of Japanese dive bombers that sank battleships at their moorings in Pearl Harbor and destroyed aircraft sitting on the ground at Hickam Field. The attack would leave Americans in shock. Fighting back became a national obsession and “Remember Pearl Harbor” the country’s war cry.
The National Park Service estimates that of the 84,000 uniformed Americans stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1941, only 8,000 are still alive.
The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was disbanded Dec. 31, 2011, because of an aging membership of less than 2,700 members nationwide.
The Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors carry on the message for the elders by remembering the unprovoked attack. Today we “Remember Pearl Harbor.”

Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies
Geauga
A Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. today at the Burton Village Gazebo on Burton Square. For details, call 440-834-8764.
Lake County
Eastlake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863 and Willowick Eastlake Post 678 will host a joint Pearl Harbor Day ceremony at 11 a.m. today inside council chambers at Eastlake City Hall. The public is invited to attend.
Hellriegel’s Inn
The annual Pearl Harbor Day remembrance dinner will be 6 p.m. today at Hellriegel’s Inn, 1840 Mentor Ave. in Painesville Township. The guest speaker will be Army Lt. Col. David Barlett.
Cocktails at 6 p.m. will be followed with a T-bone steak dinner at 7. Tickets are $35 per person and spouses and attendants are welcome. For details and tickets, call 440-354-9530.
Ashtabula
Henry Kalinowski Detachment 782 of the Marine Corps League will host a service at 2 p.m. today at Veterans Memorial Park on Main Avenue in Ashtabula. This time coincides with the time of the attack and the sinking of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
The detachment’s namesake, Henry Kalinowski, was one of those who perished aboard the Arizona. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

AMVETS Auxiliary collection
Perry Ladies Auxiliary of AMVETS Post 1971, 4129 Main St. in Perry Village, will collect gently worn or new warm clothes and blankets for homeless veterans. Donations will be accepted for the purchase of these items, if you prefer. The project will continue throughout the winter months and items may be dropped off at the AMVETS Post during regular business hours. For details and hours, call 440-259-5131 or Gertie Rorabaugh at 440-259-4242

DAV meets second Saturday
Lake County Chapter 42 of the Disabled American Veterans meets at 11 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Marine Corps League Gunny’s Hall, 8720 Twinbrook Drive, Mentor.
Meetings are usually about one hour. All disabled American veterans are welcome to attend.

Breakfast at Gunny’s Hall
The Col. Justice M. Chambers Detachment 555 of the Marine Corps League serves breakfast every Sunday between 9 a.m. and noon.
The buffet is $7.50 and includes scrambled eggs, bacon, ham and sausage, potatoes, French toast, pancakes, biscuits with sausage gravy, toast, coffee and juice.
The public is welcome. For details, call 440-974-9380.

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