releases: http://delaney.house.gov//news/in-the-news/delaney-op-ed-on-pearl-harbor-day-in-frederick-news-post
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://delaney.house.gov//news/in-the-news/delaney-op-ed-on-pearl-harbor-day-in-frederick-news-post | Delaney Op-Ed On Pearl Harbor Day in Frederick News-Post | 2014-12-08 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Democrat | House | MD | John Delaney | D000620 | delaney.house.gov | legacy | National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is December 7, the anniversary of the attack in 1941. Congressman Delaney authored an op-ed in the Frederick News-Post on the meaning and importance of the holiday. Remembering Courage, Sacrifice and Resilience on Pearl Harbor Day By Rep. John K. Delaney (MD-6) This Sunday is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the 1941 attack on the United States naval base in Hawaii by the Empire of Japan. Pearl Harbor Day is a time to remember the Americans who lost their lives that day, celebrate the heroism and valor of the millions who led the country to victory in World War II and recommit ourselves to defending the country against this century’s possible threats. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began shortly before 8:00 AM. Hundreds of Japanese planes bombarded the harbor, the culmination of an attack plan that had begun in earnest on November 26, when six aircraft carriers left Japan. In less than three hours, over 2,400 Americans were killed and over 1,100 wounded. The greatest loss of life came aboard the USS Arizona, where 1,177 crewmen were killed. 188 aircraft were destroyed and over 150 more damaged that morning. Twenty-one of the more than 90 ships at anchor in Pearl Harbor were sunk or damaged. On the same day, Japanese forces also struck Guam, Midway, Wake Island and the Philippines. The next day, President Roosevelt stated that December 7th was a date that would ‘live in infamy’ and the United States declared war on Japan. The damage done during the Pearl Harbor Attack was severe, but as history would show, not impossible for our country to overcome. After years of battle, years marked by courage, sacrifice, and honor, the United States and her allies defeated Japan and the Axis powers. In a telling symbol of America’s resolve and refusal to surrender, all but three of the ships sunk or damaged in the Pearl Harbor attack were eventually raised and repaired. This Pearl Harbor Day let us take a moment to remember the men and women, service-members and civilians who perished that day. Some were burned alive, some drowned, some were civilians killed as they drove to work. Most of the casualties that morning were young men, far from home, in service to their country. They made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, our values and our way of life. Pearl Harbor Day is another important opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of our country’s veterans, no matter the era they served. In the last year, the nation has been outraged by poor levels of service from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Congress has passed bipartisan legislation to bring needed reforms to the VA, increasing both funding and accountability for the VA. In Maryland, one of the biggest issues veterans must deal with are very slow processing times for benefits claims, due to problems at the Baltimore VA office. I’ve called for the Secretary of the VA to meet with the Maryland delegation and explain how they plan to improve operations, because year-long wait times are unacceptable. Nationally and locally, we must remain vigilant to make sure that veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned. I encourage any veteran who is experiencing problems with the VA to contact my office immediately. Finally, the anniversary of Pearl Harbor is a solemn reminder that our country will always be under threat of attack. This week, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to authorize the budget authority for national defense programs in 2015. This authorization provides our military with the tools they need to protect our nation; includes a well-deserved pay increase and extends critical counterterrorism operations. Facing enemies ranging from cyberterrorists to totalitarian regimes, it is incumbent that we maintain our status as the world’s military leader. In the last year, the United States has taken important steps to take the battle to ISIS, who continues to brazenly threaten our nation and execute Americans. Pearl Harbor Day is a sacred day on our national calendar. Speaking at Pearl Harbor on the 50th anniversary of the attack in 1991, President George H.W. Bush, a World War II veteran, summarized the legacy of the attack and our nation’s response well, “On that day of infamy, Pearl Harbor propelled each of us into a titanic contest for mankind's future. It galvanized the American spirit as never before into a single-minded resolve that could produce only one thing — victory.” Congressman John K. Delaney represents Maryland’s Sixth District in the U.S. House of Representatives ## | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |