Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Saturday marked the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Station upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu at 7:55 AM on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. This attack resulted in the loss of 2,403 lives and led to the United States’ formal entry into World War II.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and Elk Lodge 158 commemorated this historical day with a program that featured several guest speakers. Some of which included: Past All American Triple Crown State Commander Bobby Edwards, President of the WWII Veterans Memorial Board John Carrigan, and the Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Mike Disco. Disco also brought a camera that his uncle had during the war. Moments after he had set it down a stray bullet went through it. After the guest speakers made their remarks, a symbolic wreath laying ceremony was conducted by the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. 

Attendees were not just local. The Browning family, whose father Carl Browning was wounded during the attack on Pearl Harbor, came all the way from Texas to take part in the wreath laying ceremony. Robert Doe traveled from Boston. His grandfather, who died during the Midway Battle on the USS Bunker Hill, was one of 360 men buried at sea.