Dec. 7 marks the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and America's entry into World War II. The ranks of Pearl Harbor survivors are dwindling, but local veterans of that "Day of Infamy" will again attend this year's ceremonies in Sacramento's Discovery Park and Roseville.
Submarine veterans of the USS Holland will conduct (for the 25th consecutive year) the Pearl Harbor Remembrance and Wreath Laying Ceremony in Sacramento. The observance begins at 9 a.m. at Discovery Park. (Exit I-5 North or South at Richards Blvd. Turn Right on Jibboon St. Cross the bridge and turn left into parking area.)
Roseville's service begins at 11 a.m. It will feature an oral reenactment of the events of Dec. 7-8, 1941, as well as a wreath laying at the World War II Memorial. This year's wreath will be presented by Alfred Mirtoni, 96, an Army veteran of the South Pacific theater. The Memorial is located in downtown Roseville (100 block of Vernon Street).
The local Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will host a breakfast and ceremony Wednesday at Brookfield's Restaurant near Sunrise Blvd. and U.S. 50. Breakfast starts around 8 a.m. followed by the ceremony. No need to RSVP. Guests will order their meal off the menu.
The Coast Guard will conduct its own ceremony at Coast Guard Island (located between Oakland and Alameda). The event includes the arrival of veterans and Coast Guard officers in WWII era military vehicles (7:55 a.m.), reading of a proclamation, wreath hanging and 21-gun salute. See this news release for more details.
Watch for The Bee's Pearl Harbor Day profiles of local attack survivors by Anita Creamer and Carlos Alcala. The online versions of these stories will be accompanied by a photo gallery and links to informative Pearl Harbor resources on the Web.
PHOTO CREDIT: Pearl Harbor veteran John Riches salutes at the 2010 observance in downtown Roseville. Sacramento Bee photograph by Randy Pench
PS (Dec. 7): The Bee posted a new photo gallery showing scenes from this year's 2011 Pearl Harbor Day observance at Discovery Park.
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