Post by former Patriot Academy Lt. Governor Anna Becker:
“…December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” On that day, America changed forever. Millions of people would lose their lives over the course of the next few years. Thousands of surviving WWII veterans die every day. If these men had stayed home and neglected their duty, this post would probably be written in German or Japanese. We must never forget their sacrifice or miss a chance to honor them.
In order to meet the few remaining members of the “Greatest Generation”, my family and I traveled to Pearl Harbor on the 70th anniversary of the attack, Dec, 7th, 2011. We had the great honor to meet and shake hands with dozens of Pearl Harbor survivors, ranging from 86-99 years of age. Nations forget the providences of God so easily, and it is my duty to be able to tell my children and grandchildren what God has done for America. It was shocking to see the flippancy that most Americans have for that day. Conspicuous by its absence at the ceremony on Dec 7th at 7:55 am, was an official comment from President Obama on the anniversary. Long gone are the days of President Reagan’s eloquent speech to the “boys of Pointe Du Hoc”. But things changed when Pearl Harbor survivor Mal Middlesworth rose and addressed his comrades and thousands watching on television. “Let no author, historian or politician attempt to rewrite the history of what happened here 70 years ago. Let no one disturb the sacred water in the harbor. They hold the watery graves of that date in infamy… You sitting in the audience must be the guardians of our truth.”
Thank a veteran the next time you see one. Hold fast to the truth, and never allow the torch of freedom to be extinguished. We owe it to those men and their sacrifice. And remember, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke
