Avon Lake American Legion pays tribute to those lost at Pearl Harbor

AVON LAKE — Seventy-eight years to the day the United States Pacific fleet was bombed by Japanese aircraft as it lay anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, military veterans and their guests gathered at the American Legion Post 211 on Walker Road to remember the more than 2,400 Americans killed that day The post itself is more than 4,500 miles away from Pearl Harbor, but Post Commander Mike Schrull brought the losses home in a brief speech on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Twelve U.S. Navy ships were sunk or beached that day, more than 300 aircraft destroyed or damaged, and 2,335 service members killed, including more than 2,000 U.S. Navy personnel, he said. Of those in military service, nearly 1,200 sailors and marines died on the USS Arizona when it was hit by a Japanese bomb six minutes after 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941. The ship was sunk and today remains a memorial to those who died aboard it. Also killed in the raid were 68 civilians, bringing the total number of Americans dead to 2,413, with many more wounded, Schrull said. President Franklin D. Roosevelt later gave his famous speech asking Congress for a declaration of war on the Empire of Japan, with the phrase "a date which will live in infamy" becoming "one of the most famous speeches of the 20th century," Schrull said. The events of the day launched the United States into World War II, and it was nearly four years until the forces of Nazi Germany were defeated in Europe and Japan surrendered in September 1945. More than 400,000 Americans would die during the conflict, and millions more around the world would perish in combat or through genocide. Born in 1946 in Lakewood, Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka shared that he remembered seeing newsreels of the bombing and FDR's speech at a young age. "They were very meaningful to me," he said. Zilka said Americans must remain vigilant in the face of threats, and that he finds it "very humbling and inspiring" that young people in the military like his nephew -- serving his sixth tour in a medical unit in Afghanistan, the mayor said -- continue to put their lives on the line for their country. Asking the crowd to "respect and honor" the service of men and women in the military, Zilka said they are "serving our country to keep our country free." "We need to remind the young folks how important it is to serve, protect and defend" the nation, he said. Lorain County Commissioner Sharon Sweda said Dec. 7 is a time to "remember and honor those who fought and died at Pearl Harbor." She said more than 800,000 Ohioans "fought for freedom" in World War II and were "ordinary people who became extraordinary." Among them were two of her uncles, ages 19 and 17 when the war broke out, who signed up. One came home from the war, but another died while serving in the Navy, she said. Other special guests at Saturday's event included members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7035, Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring, Avon Lake Police Chief Duane Streator and a number of his officers, who were given a round of applause for their service. Schrull reminded those in attendance that the officers "put their lives on the line every day." The event concluded with a brief wreath laying at the Flagpole of the Fallen behind the post, with the national anthem sung by Michele Wisniewski and a rifle volley by the American Legion honor guard, led by Officer-in-Charge Chuck Williams with Marv Bennett playing taps. The crowd also was invited to stay following the service for a classic U.S. Navy meal: cornbread and navy bean soup. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.