"There’s no time limit on our recollection." Norwich marks 80 years since Pearl Harbor.

NORWICH — Norwich resident Tom Callinan is committed to preserving the memories of the war his father fought in.

“There’s no time limit on our recollection,” said 74-year-old Callinan, who served as a U.S. Marine Corps private.

On Tuesday, the City of Norwich, along with the Norwich Area Veterans Council and the Naval Submarine Base New London, recognized the 80th anniversary of the 1941 Imperial Japan attack on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor.

On that “date which will live in infamy,” 2,403 Americans, military and civilian, including 17 from Connecticut, died, and the United States subsequently joined World War II.

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Tuesday's ceremony included speeches, songs, and recognition of the families of two Norwich residents, Navy Storekeeper Third-Class Harry Carlson and Seaman First Class James Quarto, who died on the U.S.S. Arizona that day.

Callinan, who came with his guitar to play the National Anthem and “Remember Pearl Harbor” said the city has always been good about remembering the sacrifices of veterans, and all of its history.

“Nothing indicates to me that Norwich forgets about being patriotic,” Callinan said.

During the ceremony, a group of Navy Sub School sailors stood on the Norwich City Hall steps in uniform. Kellen Voland, command master chief of the Naval Submarine Base New London, said it’s important for them to build connections with the community.

“We’re going to ask them to do a lot of hard things, and to know that someone before has done is really important,” Voland said.

For Voland, who himself joined the Navy with the 9/11 attacks still fresh in his mind, both these tragedies stick out as times the United States was under attack.

“We had friends north and south, and these two big beautiful oceans that kept us safe, but (our territories) were under attack,” Voland said. “Similarly, after we had years of prosperity and the fall of communism, we shifted into building a bridge to the 21st century ... and all of a sudden, the seat of our democracy at the height of our power, was attacked.”

Voland gave a speech about Commander Cassin Young, who was in charge of the U.S.S. Vestal during the Pearl Harbor attack, just after leaving New London. Young was thrown from the Arizona’s deck, but he was able to swim through burning oil in the water to get back to his ship looking “like a sea monster.” Young took command and was able save survivors from the Arizona and beach the Vestal far away enough to save it from the Japanese attack.

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The highlight of the ceremony was when the families of Carlson and Quarto were presented flowers and models of the U.S.S. Arizona. Rozann Valenti, Quarto’s niece, had her own gift for the Navy Sub School sailors after the ceremony - a tub of homemade cookies. The young men eagerly ate the cookies, but were sure to say thank you and swiftly gave Valenti back the container.

“They look so young, but when you think about it, that’s how old (all those sailors at Pearl Harbor) were when they died,” Valenti said.

Valenti never met her uncle, but she’s attended the ceremony ever since she was first invited at least six years ago. Valenti said her mother would tell stories from her uncle's childhood to keep his memory alive. Despite the broad current climate of division in the country, Valenti said she hopes people can still come together behind the country.

“It’s a time when everyone united on the homefront and overseas, and because of that, we worked together and we have our freedom,” Valenti said. “If we weren’t united, we would’ve all failed.”

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Two Norwich born sailors' sacrifice at Pearl Harbor still remembered