https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-national-pearl-harbor-remembrance-day-2019/

Presidential Proclamation on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2019

Seventy-eight years ago today, the course of our Nation’s history was forever altered by the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii.  On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we solemnly remember the tragic events of that morning and honor those who perished in defense of our Nation that day and in the ensuing 4 years of war.

Just before 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, airplanes launched from the Empire of Japan’s aircraft carriers dropped bombs and torpedoes from the sky, attacking our ships moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor and other military assets around Oahu.  Following this swift assault, the United States Pacific Fleet and most of the Army and Marine airfields on the island were left decimated.  Most tragically, 2,335 American service members and 68 civilians were killed, marking that fateful day as one of the deadliest in our Nation’s history.

Despite the shock of the attack, American service members at Pearl Harbor fought back with extraordinary courage and resilience.  Sprinting through a hailstorm of lead, pilots rushed to the few remaining planes and took to the skies to fend off the incoming Japanese attackers.  Soldiers on the ground fired nearly 300,000 rounds of ammunition and fearlessly rushed to the aid of their wounded brothers in arms.  As a solemn testament to the heroism that abounded that day, 15 American servicemen were awarded the Medal of Honor — 10 of which were awarded posthumously.  In one remarkable act of bravery, Doris “Dorie” Miller, a steward aboard the USS West Virginia, manned a machine gun and successfully shot down multiple Japanese aircraft despite not having been trained to use the weapon.  For his valor, Miller was awarded the Navy Cross and was the first African-American recognized with this honor.

In the wake of this heinous attack, the United States was left stunned and wounded.  Yet the dauntless resolve of the American people remained unwavering and unbreakable.  In his address to the Congress the following day, broadcast to the Nation over radio, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt assured us that “ith confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph.”  In the days, months, and years that followed, the full might of the American people, industry, and military was brought to bear on our enemies.  Across the Atlantic and Pacific, 16 million American servicemen and women fought to victory, making the world safe for freedom and democracy once again.  More than 400,000 of these brave men and women never returned home, giving their last full measure of devotion for our Nation.

While nearly eight decades have passed since the last sounds of battle rang out over Pearl Harbor, we will never forget the immeasurable sacrifices these courageous men and women made so that we may live today in peace and prosperity.  We continue to be inspired by the proud legacy left by the brave patriots of the Greatest Generation who served in every capacity during World War II, from keeping factories operating on the home front to fighting on the battlefields in Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific.  Their incredible heroism, dedication to duty, and love of country continue to embolden our drive to create a better world and galvanize freedom-loving people everywhere under a common cause.  On this day, we resolve forever to keep the memory of the heroes of Pearl Harbor alive as a testament to the tremendous sacrifices they made in defense of freedom and all that we hold dear.

The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2019, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of remembrance and to honor our military, past and present, with appropriate ceremonies and activities.  I urge all Federal agencies and interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff in honor of those American patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

The American Legion was founded in Paris France on March 15th, 1919. Friday marked the 100th anniversary of its founding, Happy 100th Birthday!!! And a big shout out to all current and past members!

https://www.members.legion.org/IMAGES/mylegion/officerMaterial/Speeches/American Legion Birthday.pdf

Have a good one everybody,

Randy

They did their job back then, now it is our job to keep the memory alive!

Best wishes,

Frank

As for the GPO, they are the place you can buy your brand new versions of the US Army's Green Books about WWII. For Christmas, I bought the Okinawa green book (with a picture on the cover and no longer green), some posters and a few small publications. Very cool. Anyway, it's pretty easy to navigate around the book store site. The search is ok but you will get a lot of results that don't have anything to do with your search parameters. Here is a search for "Engineers World War II"

   https://bookstore.gpo.gov/search/apachesolr_search/engineer world war ii

Great place for government published books that are hard to get elsewhere.

Looking for the Green Books on PDF. . . and for free?

http://www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/usaww2.html

http://www.hmtcli.org/

From Generation to Generation - description.pdf

Generation to Generation - Save-the-Date - FINAL.pdf

She created a one in a multimillion man!

What a legacy!

What a Woman!

What a Loss!

A very very sad,

Jean

I

The Column of Liberation 2013 was under the aegis of the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic.

Some figures: 153 vehicles and 450 reenactors participated to the event.

Pictures: the DUCKW float again on the Garda lake, Shermans and Helcat in Piazza Bra in Verona, the road next to the Garda Lake.

This year our commemoration of the days of Liberation, which in Italy is officially celebrated on April the 25th, will take place between the Bologna area, Cesena and Cervia on the Adriatic Coast! That theater of operation was in charge especially to the 8th British Army.

The event starts April 25th in Bologna and the following days April 27th to 29th.

More information are available on the Gotica Toscana NPA website

Discover WW2 uniforms, equipments and original footage within the Gothic Line rooms and have a look at the temporary exhibitions on various WW2 themes.

Join us every weekend and take your time. If you want you can also ask a guide either for the support to the exhibition or on demand to visit the battlefield.

Check the Centre's website and that of the North Apennines Po Valley Park we belong to.

PieghevoleMuseoCDRS_GTonlus-rev03.pdf

Wow. I knew it was a low percentage, but that's much less than I would have figured. I guess that's why it seems there are so many in Congress that suggest we should cut veterans' benefits - it's too small of a voting bloc (and not generally politically allied with those suggesting the cuts). Hopefully Mr Penetta is true to his word about protecting the military and veterans. "The 1 percent of the country that has served in uniform, and their families, have borne the heavy costs of war for 10 years," he said. "They cannot be expected to bear the full costs of fiscal austerity as well."

Here's to hoping. . . .

Maj Todd

Survey: Gap growing between civilians, military

Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 29 2011 01:21 PM

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON A new report confirms a concern defense and military leaders have long recognized: There's a growing disconnect between Americans and their military.

The report, published last week by the Pew Research Center, notes that a smaller share of Americans currently serve in the armed forces than at any time since the peacetime era between World Wars I and II.

Just one-half of 1 percent of Americans served in uniform at any given time during the past decade the longest period of sustained conflict in the country's history the report says. Meanwhile, as the military shrinks in size, the connections between military members and the broader civilian population "appear to be growing more distant," the report says.

The report was based on surveys of more than 2,000 civilian adults and almost 1,900 veterans, more than 700 of whom served after 9/11.

Among the respondents, most said they have family members who are serving in the armed forces or have served in the past. However, older Americans were considerably more likely to have close military ties.

More than three-quarters of civilian adults ages 50 and older reported having an immediate family member a spouse, parent, sibling or child who served or serves in the military. For many, that service took place before the end of the draft and the introduction of the all-volunteer force in 1973.

Only 57 percent of civilian respondents ages 30 to 49 said they had an immediate family member who served. The percentage dropped to one-third among respondents ages 18 to 29.

Military service a family tradition for many Americans

The report appears to confirm that for many Americans, military service is a family tradition. Seventy-nine percent of veterans surveyed reported that an immediate family member is serving or has served in the military. That compares to 61 percent among the civilian respondents.

Decisions to serve also appear to be influenced by race, region and political preference, the report showed. Sixty-eight percent of whites, 59 percent of blacks and 30 percent of Hispanic respondents reported having immediate family members who serve or have served in uniform.

Sixty-four percent of Southerners reported immediate family ties to the military. The percentage for those living in the Northeast was 56 percent, and in the West, 57 percent. City dwellers were somewhat less likely than those in the suburbs or rural areas to say a family member served in the military.

Political party also appeared to be an influencing factor. Seventy-three percent of Republicans, 59 percent of Democrats and 56 percent of Independents said an immediate family member served in the military.

The report confirmed perceptions by civilians as well as veterans that the American public doesn't understand the problems faced by those in the military. Seventy-seven percent of veterans and 71 percent of the general public shared this view.

Retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke frequently during his tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about what he called a "worrying disconnect" between civilians and the military.

Speaking earlier this year at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Mullen expressed concern that civilians don't fully understand the sacrifices military members make.

"Our work is appreciated, of that I am certain," he told members of the 2011 graduating class. "But I fear do not know us. I fear they do not comprehend the full weight of the burden we carry or the price we pay when we return from battle."

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, speaking last month at the Woodrow Wilson Center, called the tiny percentage of Americans who make up the all-volunteer force the most important ingredient of U.S. national defense.

Panetta praised the "men and women who represent less than 1 percent of our nation, but who have shouldered the burden of protecting the American people and who have shown the strength of the American character in their willingness to put their lives on the line to defend our values, our interests and our freedom."

The secretary emphasized the need for the country to provide them the support they deserve -- even in the face of budgetary challenges.

"The 1 percent of the country that has served in uniform, and their families, have borne the heavy costs of war for 10 years," he said. "They cannot be expected to bear the full costs of fiscal austerity as well."