Take a moment or two today to think of all those who lost their lives or were otherwise injured on December 7, 1941 when the naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked. Over 2,000 Americans lost their lives that day; several ships, the biggest and most powerful, of our naval fleet were sunk or badly damaged in that sneak attack on the United States by the Imperial Japanese Navy. That attack led to Predsident Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) asking Congress to declare war against Japan on the following day when he opened his speech to them by saying:
"Yesterday, 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."
This video is worth the watch, the whole thing. The response to FDR's speech was unified and amazing. Congress, it seems most everyone, if not every single member of Congress, actually applauded when FDR asked that Congress declare, that since the attack, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire. Sadly, I think even if we were if there was a secret & brutal attack on the USA today, and President Trump gave a similar speech in response, my guess is almost half of Congress would boo him because the Democrats would be afraid to lose their support from the loons on the left who probably would support our assailants. It's that bad today as I see it.
Anyway, it certainly was an infamous date. What happened on December 7, 1941 not only was a terrible attack but it brought the United States of America into World War II. Now, I for one, and maybe you too, would think it only right and proper if someone, whoever made up the Pearl Harbor webpage which is linked below - at the National WW II Museum, New Orleans - could have gotten it right but apparently he or she does not know what FDR actually said as they call it 'the day that will live in infamy" (source: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/pearl-harbor-december-7-1941). That evidently incorrect wording is right there on the page when it pops up. It really is sad, in my opinion, that a museum commemorating Pearl Harbor seemingly could not get that right. Historians getting history right, even the small facts, is important or at least I think so. Once they start getting the small facts wrong and getting people to believe them by passing them off as truth, it seems to morph into the so called historians getting the big facts wrong as well, and thus misleading folks on the truly important facts.
Regardless, the attack on Pearl Harbor was indeed terrible and what followed were the even more terrible consequences of that attack culminating in Japan's surrender but only after two atomic bombs were dropped on Japanese cities of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. So, as I said, take some time to think of the sacrifices made by U.S. Service members and civilians that day, and during our involvement throughout WW II, and give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and for those others who fought for and preserved our freedom.
All the best,
Glenn B
