Still, they don’t forget that day at Pearl Harbor 71 years ago

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>Many of the Pearl Harbor survivors share memories before the start of the Commemoration of the 71st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Many of the Pearl Harbor Veterans gathered at the World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument remembering the 71th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>The bow of the Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Michael Murphy passes by the USS Arizona Memorial Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Many of the Pearl Harbor Veterans gathered at the World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument remembering the 71th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 194 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>USS Oklahoma survivor David Russell, 92, of Albany, Ore. stands at attention as the Oregon State University Naval ROTC Color Guard retires the colors at a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony on the steps of the Linn County Courthouse, Friday Dec. 7, 2012 in Albany. (AP Photo/Albany Democrat-Herald, Mark Ylen)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>FILE - In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, American ships burn during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP Photo)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>Gabi Shultz, 10, resident of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, meets Pearl Harbor survivor Sam Clower, center, of Sacramento, Calif. and Ab Brum, right, retired United States Army Special Forces, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Pearl Harbor. Many of the Pearl Harbor Veterans gathered at the World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument remembering the 71th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 194 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>Pearl Harbor survivor Victor Miranda, of San Deigo, Calif. salutes during a moment of silence marking the moment Pearl Harbor was attacked Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Many of the Pearl Harbor Veterans gathered at the World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument remembering the 71th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 194 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>Pearl Harbor survivor Tom Berg, of Port Townsen, Wash., a sailor on the USS Tennessee, signs his autograph for an admirer Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Many of the Pearl Harbor Veterans gathered at the World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument remembering the 71th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>FILE - This Dec. 7, 1941 image provided by the U.S. War Department made from a Japanese newsreel shows Japanese planes over Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor. (AP Photo/U.S. War Department)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>FILE - In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, smoke rises from the battleship USS Arizona as it sinks during a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP File Photo)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>FILE - In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, a Japanese plane goes into its last dive as it heads toward the ground in flames after it was hit by Naval anti-aircraft fire during a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP Photo)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>FILE - In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, people buy newspapers reporting the Japanese attack on U.S. bases in the Pacific Ocean, at Times Square in New York. (AP Photo/Robert Kradin)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>Pearl Harbor survivor Sam Clower, left, of Sacramento, Calif. and Ab Brum, right, , retired United States Army Special Forces, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, share memories of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Many of the Pearl Harbor Veterans gathered at the World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument remembering the 71th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>Pearl Harbor survivors Max Green, left, and Bill Thornton greet each other prior to the Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony at the Va. War Memorial, in Richmond, Va. on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. The ceremony remembers those Virginians who died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. (AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Dean Hoffmeyer)

<div style='float:right;width:100%;' align='right'><em>AP</em></div>FILE - In this Dec. 7, 1941 photo provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors on a small boat rescue a USS West Virginia crew member from the water after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy)

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By The Associated Press

Published: Friday, December 7, 2012, 8:08 p.m.
Updated: Friday, December 7, 2012

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — More than 2,000 people at Pearl Harbor and many more around the country took time on Friday to mark the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed thousands and plunged the United States into World War II.

The USS Michael Murphy, a ship recently christened after a Penn State alumnus who was killed in Afghanistan, sounded its ship's whistle Friday to start a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the exact time the bombs rained down in 1941.

Crew members lined the edge of the Navy guided-missile destroyer in the harbor where the USS Arizona and USS Utah, battleships that sank in the attack, still lie. Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 fighter jets flew overhead in a special “missing man” formation to break the silence.

“Let us remember that this is where it all began. Let us remember that the arc of history was bent in this place 71 years ago today and a generation of young men and women reached deep and rose up to lead our nation to victory,” Rhea Suh, Interior Department assistant secretary, told the crowd. “Let us remember and be forever grateful for all of their sacrifices.”

About 30 survivors, many using walkers and canes, attended the commemoration.

Edwin Schuler, of San Jose, Calif., said he remembered going up to the bridge of his ship, the USS Phoenix, to read a book on a bright, sunny Sunday morning in 1941 when he saw planes dropping bombs.

“I thought: ‘Whoa, they're using big practice bombs.' I didn't know,” said Schuler, 91.

Schuler said he's returned for the annual ceremony about 30 times because it's important to spread the message of remembering Pearl Harbor.

Ewalt Shatz, 89, said returning to Pearl Harbor “keeps the spirit going, the remembering of what can happen.”

Shatz, who now lives in Riverside, Calif., was on board the USS Patterson that morning when the alarm sounded. His more experienced shipmates were down below putting a boiler back together so Shatz found himself manning a 50-caliber machine gun for the first time. The Navy credited him with shooting a Japanese plane.

“That was some good shooting,” said U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Cecil Haney, who recounted Shatz' valor in the keynote address.

President Obama marked the day by issuing a presidential proclamation, calling for flags to fly at half-staff on Friday and asking all Americans to observe the day of remembrance.

“Today, we pay solemn tribute to America's sons and daughters who made the ultimate sacrifice at Oahu,” Obama said in a statement.

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Still, they don’t forget that day at Pearl Harbor 71 years ago

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Still, they don’t forget that day at Pearl Harbor 71 years ago

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