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73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony To Be Held At Virginia War Memorial

December 1, 2014                                                                                 For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Jeb Hockman, (O) 804.786.2074 (C) 804.239.2447 (jhockman@vawarmemorial.org)

 

73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony

To Be Held At Virginia War Memorial

Navy League Will Honor Survivors and Casualties of Surprise Attack That Brought U.S. into World War II on December 7, 1941

 

(Richmond, Va.) The 73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 7 at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.

 

Co-hosted by the Richmond Council, Navy League of the United States and the Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation, the annual ceremony will be held in the Shrine of Memory on the grounds of the War Memorial at 621 South Belvidere Street. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

According to Tom Hassell, president of the Navy League’s Richmond Council, the Remembrance will include the laying of wreathes in memory of those Virginians who died on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 when Japanese forces bombed and strafed the U.S. Pacific fleet and Army airfield at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“The names of each Virginian who perished at Pearl Harbor will be read and remembered by the tolling of the ship’s bell from the USS Virginia, which is on permanent display at the Virginia War Memorial,” Hassell said.

“In past years, we have been blessed to have hosted veterans who survived the attack at the ceremony. We are hoping to have one or two of these survivors in attendance this year. Unfortunately, many of these heroes have passed on and some who survive are too ill to attend. It is up to all of us to assure that none of them are ever forgotten.”

More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded during the surprise attack which resulted in the United States declaring war on the Japanese Empire and entering World War II.

For more information on the 73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony, please call 804-786-2060 or visit www.vawarmemorial.org .

About the Navy League of the United States

The Navy League of the United States (NLUS) was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of the President Theodore Roosevelt. The Navy League has grown into the foremost citizens’ organization to serve, support, and stand with all the sea services – U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine. The Navy League is comprised of 50,000 civilians in more than 250 councils around the world to support sea service members and their families. For more information, go to www.navyleague.org.

For more information on the Richmond Council, Navy League of the United States, please call 804.355.7557 or visit www.navyleague-richmond.com

About the Virginia War Memorial

The Virginia War Memorial is a division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The Memorial’s mission is to Honor Veterans, Preserve History, Educate Youth and Instill Patriotism in All. Dedicated in 1956, the Memorial includes the names of the nearly 12,000 Virginia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and the ongoing Global War on Terrorism Situated on over four acres overlooking downtown Richmond and the James River at 621 South Belvidere St., the Virginia War Memorial also includes the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center which houses military-related exhibits, programs and theaters showing the award-winning Virginians At War documentary series and the multi-dimensional film, Into Battle.

The Galanti Education Center is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon- 4 p.m. The Shrine of Memory and grounds are open from 5 a.m. – 12 midnight daily. All events at the Virginia War Memorial are free unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 804.786.2060 or visit www.vawarmemorial.org or www.facebook.com/virginiawarmemorial.

About the Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation

The Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation (VWMEF) is the non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation dedicated to the financial support of the educational and patriotic programs of the Virginia War Memorial. Donations to the Foundation from individuals, corporations, military and veterans groups and other organizations may be tax-deductible and are encouraged and appreciated. For more information, please visit www.vawarmemorial.org and click on Get Involved.