WINNEMUCCA — On Thursday, Dec. 7, veterans and non-veterans from Humboldt and Pershing Counties will hold a memorial observance of the deaths of more than 2,000 American sailors and soldiers who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the Hawaiian Islands on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941.
The memorial ceremony will officially begin at the Winnemucca Cemetery flagpole with the lowering of the American flag to half-mast at 7:55 a.m. (0755), the time the attack began on the ships moored and anchored at PearlHarbor, said Phil Jacka, Commander of American Legion Post 5. Taps will be played by Dr. Mike Bumgartner, member of the Winnemucca Brass Quintet. The ceremony will be under the command of retired Navy Chief Warrant Officer Paul Schlehr and should last about 30 minutes. Attendees are asked to arrive by 7:45 a.m. (0745).
“All veterans and other members of the community are invited to attend to join in honoring the sacrifices made by Army and Navy personnel during the attack,” said Jacka.
Craig “Skip” Becker, Commander of VFW Post 12116 expressed the thanks of Humboldt and Pershing County veterans to the City of Winnemucca for assistance in arranging the ceremony. “We appreciate the outstanding cooperation of the Winnemucca City Clerk, Water Department, and Public Works Department in facilitating this memorial observance at the City’s cemetery,” said Becker.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, speaking on behalf of all Americans, called the day of the attack, “A day that will live in infamy.” The following day, December 8, 1941, Congress declared war on Japan.
Participating veterans include members of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) High Desert Post 12116 and American Legion Post 5 based in Winnemucca.
