Remembering Pearl Harbor and a few personal family thoughts
Posted By RichC on December 7, 2020
Recognition and remembrance for those of the Greatest Generation who were killed on December 7, 1941 are compelling reasons why Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day rings loud with me … but my remembering is also partially due out of respect for my parents. For them (and my late mother and father-in-law), the attack by 
Japan and changed their life trajectory. In the case of Dad Howard (the right age), he enlisted and did his part in WWII as a B-26 navigator. He flew over 50 bombing missions in the European theatre. Throughout his life, his priority was to remember ALL days set aside to honor all who served in the military … even going to events alone when others didn’t have the same desire.
My parents both were old enough to remember the significance the attack on Pearl Harbor was for our country, but not quite old enough to serve (DadC was 12, MomC was 7). DadC then served in Korea in the 1950s and continued to be involved with fellow veterans his entire life. I can remember my dad driving older veterans from Sidney to the VA in Dayton, his involvement with the local VFW or the many activities with the American Legion. Probably most memorable for me was the Honor Trip to Washington DC as well as the monthly card games with the guys that he hosted. It brought a lot of aging veterans together who shared the common bond of serving their country … and teasing each other over nickels.
In my opinion, much of the patriotism and solemn honoring has been lost in the generations that followed the “Greatest Generation” … including mine (and me) … but I tend to at least reflect on “days of remembrance” like Pearl Harbor Day out of my appreciation and respect all who died and served our country … and partially out of how my father and father-in-law served and lived their lives. So for my dad, I’ll include the video from the American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford.
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