By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

Members of the local American Legion post held an early morning flagraising ceremony on Tuesday, December 7 to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The ceremony, which was held at the old army tank in downtown Overton, was timed to coincide with the actual time (7:53 a.m.) that Japanese bombs began falling on American ships on the same day in 1941.

The American Legion Flag Detail first raised the flag to the top of the pole. Then Post Chaplain David Fox called for a moment of prayer while the flag was lowered to half staff in memory of the soldiers who died at Pearl Harbor.

Fox, a local World War II veteran, gave a brief summary of the historic events that occurred on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor.

“In less than two hours we lost 2,403 dead, 1,178 wounded, 21 ships including 8 battleships, and 37 aircraft,” Fox said. “We paid a fearful price.”

“The shock and anger caused by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor united a divided nation and was translated into a wholehearted commitment to victory in World War II,” Fox concluded.