National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2018

Vol. 83

Tuesday,

No. 237

December 11, 2018

Part IV

The President

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Proclamation 9831--National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2018

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9831 of December 6, 2018

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2018

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Today, we honor those who perished 77 years ago at
Pearl Harbor, and we salute every veteran who served in
World War II over the 4 years that followed that
horrific attack.

On December 7, 1941, America was attacked without
warning at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the air and naval
forces of Imperial Japan. Just before 8:00 a.m.,
Japanese aircraft ripped through the sky, dropping
bombs on ships of the United States Pacific Fleet and
on nearby airfields and bases. The attack took the
lives of more than 2,400 American service members and
wounded another 1,100 American citizens. The brutal
surprise attack halted only after nearly two hours of
chaos, death, and destruction.

Despite the shock and confusion of the moment, American
service members and first responders on the island of
Oahu mounted an incredibly brave defense against
insurmountable odds. American pilots took to the air to
engage enemy aircraft, sailors took their battle
stations, and medical personnel cared for the wounded.
Many witnesses to the events of that day perished in
the attacks, leaving countless acts of valor
unrecorded. Nevertheless, 15 Medals of Honor were
awarded--10 of them posthumously--to United States Navy
personnel for acts of valor above and beyond the call
of duty.

Although the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl
Harbor was badly impaired, America did not falter. One
day after the attacks, President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt declared to the Congress: ``No matter how
long it may take us to overcome this premeditated
invasion, the American people in their righteous might
will win through to absolute victory.'' And, in the
weeks, months, and years that followed the brutal
attack at Pearl Harbor, Americans united with a
steadfast resolve to defend the freedoms upon which our
great Nation was founded. Millions of brave men and
women answered their country's call to service with
unquestionable courage. These incredible patriots
fought, bled, sacrificed, and ultimately triumphed for
the cause of freedom.

We are blessed as a Nation to have as examples the
incredible heroes of World War II, who fought so
valiantly to preserve all that we hold dear. Earlier
this year, I had the tremendous honor of meeting Mr.
Ray Chavez, who was the oldest living Pearl Harbor
veteran. Ray passed away only a few weeks ago at the
incredible age of 106. But his legacy is forever etched
into our country's rich history, along with the
legacies of all our brave veterans. They tell of the
mettle of the American spirit under fire and of the
will of our people to stand up to any threat. The
selfless bravery and dedication of these extraordinary
Americans will never be forgotten.

Today, we remember all those killed on the island of
Oahu on that fateful Sunday morning in 1941, and we
honor the American patriots of the Greatest Generation
who laid down their lives in the battles of World War
II. America is forever blessed to have strong men and
women with exceptional courage who are willing and able
to step forward to defend our homeland and our liberty.

The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has
designated December 7 of each year as ``National Pearl
Harbor Remembrance Day.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim December
7, 2018, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I
encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of
remembrance and to honor our military, past and
present, with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I
urge all Federal agencies and interested organizations,
groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United
States at half-staff in honor of those American
patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl
Harbor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
third.