Pearl Harbor attacks remembered eight decades later

(Pearl Harbor, HI) -- The 80th anniversary of the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor is being marked Tuesday.  

Every year on December 7th, Americans remember and pay tribute to the 23-hundred lives lost that day. Another eleven-hundred were wounded and five battleships, including the USS Arizona, were sunk or severely damaged. More than 180 aircraft were also destroyed.

“Eight decades after the ‘date which will live in infamy,’ we continue to honor the legacy of those service members who paid the ultimate price for our freedom at Pearl Harbor,” said Governor Doug Burgum said. “In the words of Navy Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, ‘They fought together as brothers-in-arms. They died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation.’ Today, and every day, we share our eternal gratitude for the heroes of Pearl Harbor and all of our military veterans and current service members who served and continue to serve our nation with courage and honor in the name of liberty and justice for all.”

The U.S. and North Dakota flags are to be flown at half-staff on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Flags should already be at half-staff because on Sunday Burgum directed the order through Thursday in honor of World War II veteran and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who died Sunday at age 98.

The attack propelled the U.S. into World War Two and it stood as the deadliest attack on America until 9/11.