Sacramento veterans gather to honor lives lost on 84th Pearl Harbor anniversary

Sunday marks 84 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, and in Sacramento, veterans, families and community members gathered this morning at Discovery Park to honor the lives forever changed on Dec 7, 1941.For the past 38 years, Navy submarine veterans in the greater Sacramento region have held a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the park, determined to keep the history and sacrifice alive for future generations.Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez reflected on the significance of the day.“So today, on Dec. 7, we gather with a profound sense of gratitude and reflection. It was on this day in 1941, that our nation was forever changed by the attack on Pearl Harbor. That day, ordinary Americans, sailors, soldiers, nurses, and civilians woke up to what they thought would be a normal Sunday and instead became part of history.”Organizers said the ceremony is about more than looking back, it’s about making sure people of all ages understand the sacrifices that were made.“Our goal is to memorialize that event,” said veteran Barry Wyatt. “To refresh the memory of people about a situation in our country that brought us to the war in World War II.”“We remember them not just as names in a book or faces in a black and white photo, but as real people who stood in the gap for our country,” Rodriguez said.The ceremony also served as a living history lesson for children and grandchildren in attendance.“When we bring our children and grandchildren to memorials, when we teach them about Pearl Harbor and all the conflicts before and after, we are not glorifying war. We are honoring sacrifice. We are teaching them the value of peace and the price that has to be paid to defend it,” said Rodriguez.As part of the program, members of the U.S. Submarine Veterans read the names of submarines attacked.“So, one of the things that we do is we remember all the submarines that were lost in war and in peace…And it’s important for every generation to remember the events that took place in that time frame, because 9/11 was our generation’s version of Pearl Harbor,” said Pete Juhos, director of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Western Region.Those who attended said gatherings like this are a powerful reminder to never forget what happened and how the country responded.“I think it’s important to remember,” Wyatt said. “Remember the sacrifices. Remember the fact that our nation united around this incident.”Organizers plan to continue holding the annual Pearl Harbor memorial at Discovery Park for years to come, ensuring that December 7, 1941, remains in the hearts and minds of the community.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

Sunday marks 84 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, and in Sacramento, veterans, families and community members gathered this morning at Discovery Park to honor the lives forever changed on Dec 7, 1941.

For the past 38 years, Navy submarine veterans in the greater Sacramento region have held a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the park, determined to keep the history and sacrifice alive for future generations.

Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez reflected on the significance of the day.

“So today, on Dec. 7, we gather with a profound sense of gratitude and reflection. It was on this day in 1941, that our nation was forever changed by the attack on Pearl Harbor. That day, ordinary Americans, sailors, soldiers, nurses, and civilians woke up to what they thought would be a normal Sunday and instead became part of history.”

Organizers said the ceremony is about more than looking back, it’s about making sure people of all ages understand the sacrifices that were made.

“Our goal is to memorialize that event,” said veteran Barry Wyatt. “To refresh the memory of people about a situation in our country that brought us to the war in World War II.”

“We remember them not just as names in a book or faces in a black and white photo, but as real people who stood in the gap for our country,” Rodriguez said.

The ceremony also served as a living history lesson for children and grandchildren in attendance.

“When we bring our children and grandchildren to memorials, when we teach them about Pearl Harbor and all the conflicts before and after, we are not glorifying war. We are honoring sacrifice. We are teaching them the value of peace and the price that has to be paid to defend it,” said Rodriguez.

As part of the program, members of the U.S. Submarine Veterans read the names of submarines attacked.

“So, one of the things that we do is we remember all the submarines that were lost in war and in peace…And it’s important for every generation to remember the events that took place in that time frame, because 9/11 was our generation’s version of Pearl Harbor,” said Pete Juhos, director of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Western Region.

Those who attended said gatherings like this are a powerful reminder to never forget what happened and how the country responded.

“I think it’s important to remember,” Wyatt said. “Remember the sacrifices. Remember the fact that our nation united around this incident.”

Organizers plan to continue holding the annual Pearl Harbor memorial at Discovery Park for years to come, ensuring that December 7, 1941, remains in the hearts and minds of the community.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel