Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol

…remarks from Rear Adm. Jonathan A. Yuen

As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we pay tribute to the heroes of that fateful day, and all Americans who fought and turned the tide of this world war. We owe the greatest of debts for their sacrifice, their resilience, and their determination to defend freedom and democracy. Let us take strength from their example and wisdom from their experience.

While we are here to observe an important piece of our American history, we are also here to remember and commemorate our heritage. It is this heritage…this spirit…that these courageous men and women have passed down to us.

As inheritors it is our obligation to continue to read … continue to remember … and continue to understand the values, customs, and traditions passed down to us, and learn from our forefather’s experience. By doing so, we can inspire a future committed to peaceful solutions to conflict. We can help future generations to chart their way toward stability and prosperity.

As we gather today, tens of thousands of America’s finest young men and women are deployed, representing our next generation, and committing themselves to the call for diligence. They have inherited the watch that generations before them stood so vigilantly and valiantly. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday… every Sunday…every holiday this year and the next. They are there around the world, around the clock, far from our shores, carrying out the tough mission of defending and protecting America at all times.

So, it is our forefather’s spirit that brings us here today. It is our heritage that is sacred and hallowed. We owe it to our heroes to protect it, learn from it, and continue to honor it. Thank you and God Bless America.