December 7: “A Day That Will Live in Infamy.”

As more and more veterans from “the Greatest Generation” pass on, fewer and fewer are here to recollect the deliberate and unprovoked attack by Japanese forces against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

The date is cemented in the fabric of U.S. history as the attack led to the United States’ entry into World War II and had a profound impact on the nation and the world.

We now commemorate the day as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, a solemn observance in the United States that honors and remembers the victims of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel and civilians during World War II and the importance of preserving and sharing the history of that pivotal moment in American history.

When the smoke cleared, the destruction was evident as ships docked in the harbor, including the USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma, were sunk and permanently lost, as well as several other battleships and ships that were sunk but were later salvaged and repaired, including the USS California, the USS West Virginia, and the USS Utah.

The human losses were catastrophic as 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 were wounded. The deceased included 2,008 Navy personnel, 218 Army personnel, 109 Marines, and 68 civilians.

The next day, at 12:30 p.m., in the House of Representatives, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his six-minute address to a joint session of Congress and a nationwide radio audience.

In his December 8, 1941 speech to Congress, President Roosevelt famously described December 7, 1941, as "a date which will live in infamy". He stated that on that day, the United States was "suddenly and deliberately attacked" by Japan, causing "severe damage" and "very many American lives".

He formally requested that Congress declare a state of war against Japan, emphasizing the grave danger to the nation's territory and interests before asserting that the U.S. would fight for "absolute victory."