NEWBURGH – On a Sunday 82 years ago, Japanese fighters brought an inferno to paradise with a surprise attack on American forces based at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands.
Now more than eight decades after the attack that eventually led America into WW II and later victors as a world super power, there was a gathering Thursday at the Newburgh City waterfront to honor the lives that were sacrificed that day for our honor and strength as a nation.
“It’s a very important day in history,” said Joe Pifer, commander of American Legion Post 1796 in New Windsor, “it got us into WW II.”
Pifer hosted the commemoration, which included remarks from veterans and the voices and sounds from choral and band members at Newburgh Free Academy. A color guard unit from the high school’s Air Force junior ROTC program also participated in the commemoration.
Following some remarks and music, wreaths and flowers were tossed into the Hudson River to honor the dead from the surprise attack on that day in 1941.
“ It’s important to remember those who lost their lives that day. It really helped win the war against Germany, Japan and everybody trying to change the world and the course of history,” said Pifer. “It is important for me to have the young people here from NFA and the old vets, just to remember and pay respects to everybody who lost their lives that day.”
