Pearl Harbor Events Short on Survivors

Few remain to mark 67th anniversary of attack

By Laurel Jorgensen, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 7, 2008 5:21 PM CST

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Pearl Harbor Events Short on Survivors — In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo, American ships burn during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (AP Photo)

Death and illness have trimmed the ranks of Pearl Harbor survivors appearing at ceremonies today, the Boston Globe reports. Only one survivor was expected at a ceremony in Boston, and organizers nationwide said many groups have seen their last commemoration. Of the 60,000 military members stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, just 3,000 to 5,000 are still alive, the Honolulu Advertiser reports.

“The ones who won’t be there either can’t make it or they’re dead,” said the veteran attending at Charlestown. “I’m still doing my best.” Fewer than 100 survivors were expected at a national gathering this weekend in Texas, where one veteran said they no longer talk about the attack. "We all know exactly what happened. We'll talk about the people we knew."

(More World War II stories.)

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