Ducey, veterans host ceremony at Capitol to honor 80 years since Pearl Harbor attacks

Dec. 7, 2021, marked the 80th year since the U.S. military was attacked in Pearl Harbor during World War II. A ceremony to remember the day and honor the lives that were lost took place at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza by the state Capitol.

The Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony was attended by special guests, Major Fannie Griffin McClendon and Erlinda Gallegos Avila, with speeches by Gov. Doug Ducey and Commander Kevin Kahl from the Navy Talent Acquisition Group.

McClendon and Avila were flown in by helicopters before the ceremony. Avila was an original Rosie the Riveter who worked on airplanes. McClendon was part of the only Black women's battalion, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, that was sent to Europe during World War II.

McClendon is now also a member of the Arizona chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. The Tuskegee Airmen began the same year that Pearl Harbor was attacked.

Retired Col. Richard Toliver from Tuskegee Airmen Inc. said, "It's most important for people to know what the price of freedom is, the price that's been paid. Young people today — and even some of the older ones — do not appreciate the price paid for freedom, the blood, sweat and tears, not only within the soil of America, but in soils all over the continents of the world. Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. That's why we're here today."

Biplanes fly over ceremony; Ducey speaks

To begin the ceremony, four World War II combat biplanes flew over the memorial at 10:55 a.m., the local time of the attack 80 years ago.

Over 2,300 people were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. In all, 353 Japanese airplanes took the military by surprise, sinking and damaging all eight battleships at anchor.

The next day, Dec. 8, 1941, the U.S. entered World War II, declaring war on Japan, Germany and Italy.

Rebekah McLeod, who has family members in the military, said, "I think it's important to remember how we came together as a country after what happened at Pearl Harbor. If we continue to remember and be grateful for when we've come together in the past, then maybe there's more hope of coming together in the future."

Toward the beginning of the ceremony, participating military organizations laid wreaths around a large blue anchor from the USS Arizona ship that sunk in Pearl Harbor.

In his speech, Gov. Ducey said, "The anchor serves as a symbol for those stationed at Pearl Harbor. Our maritime troops know that a ship cannot function properly without an anchor. Similarly, a country cannot function without a brave and strong military."

Several Confederate groups participated in the ceremony. When asked about their participation, Gov. Ducey told The Arizona Republic, “I think the good guys won, everybody remained an American after the war. The slaves were freed and we live in the greatest country in the world.”

Ducey: 'Our enemies will not stop'

Around the memorial, a semicircle of white folding chairs lined the manicured, green lawn where veterans, military members and supporters sat dressed in their formal uniforms.

Two women wearing all white, Jan Solberg and Brenda Horton, sat near the front. They were with the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association, which lobbies Congress for veterans' benefits.

"We wear white in reverence of the memorial. We still have shipmates in our branch that served during World War II, so it's to honor them," Horton said.

A common feeling expressed at the ceremony was to remember Pearl Harbor in order to honor those who died, as well as to not repeat it.

Gov. Ducey mentioned in his speech the 9/11 terrorist attack and recent bombing of soldiers in Kabul, Afghanistan. He said, "This event reminds us that our enemies will not stop with their surprise attacks and acts of terror."

Kent Bradt, commander of In-Country Vietnam Veterans of Arizona, said, "For me, it's a reminder of the danger in the world. Even though it was decades ago, we have to continue to be vigilant against foreign and domestic enemies."

Similarly, Steve Johnson shared a story about meeting a survivor of Pearl Harbor who told him, "The Japanese surprised us that day, they caught us off guard. There's a pistol sitting right there. I'll never be caught off guard again."

Reach breaking news reporter MacKenzie Brower at mackenzie.brower@arizonarepublic.com or on Instagram @_photomac_.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix event honors National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day