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The remembrance ceremony for Pearl Harbor commenced on Sunday in Hawaii with a moment of silence at precisely 7:55 a.m., mirroring the exact time the Japanese assault began on December 7, 1941.
This annual event commemorated the 84th anniversary of the attack, which resulted in the loss of over 2,300 military personnel and marked the entry of the United States into World War II.
“Through this commemoration, we acknowledge the significance of recalling a pivotal moment when the hopes for peace were shattered, thrusting our nation into a global conflict,” stated David Ono, who presided over the event.
Traditionally, survivors of the attack have been the focal point of the ceremony at the military base’s waterfront. However, today only a dozen veterans, all centenarians, remain alive. This year, none were able to travel to Hawaii for the commemoration, leaving the event without anyone who personally served during the attack.
The USS Arizona Memorial stood as a solemn backdrop before the 84th anniversary of Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)
In his address, Ono emphasized that the ceremony is not only a time for reflection and appreciation but also a call to action, urging people to continue building on the strong legacy established by the Greatest Generation.
FILE – American ships burn during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo, File)
Survivors have been present every year in recent memory except for 2020, when the Navy and the National Park Service closed the observance to the general public because of coronavirus pandemic health risks.
FILE – Pearl Harbor survivors watch a vintage WWII airplane fly over Pearl Harbor at the ceremony commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 2013, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, File)
About 2,000 survivors attended the 50th anniversary event in 1991. A few dozen have shown in recent decades. Last year, only two made it. That is out of an estimated 87,000 troops stationed on Oahu that day.
