Memorial Day

"Remember Pearl Harbor--keep America Alert!" That's the motto of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and they've tried, on both a local and national level, to educate each generation on the reality of what happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Political correctness demands that we re-view history through the eyes of any and everyone other than Americans, particularly those of European descent. And so, when I invited Adam's Cub Scout pack, along with various Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to the annual Pearl Harbor Survivors' Memorial Day service at Marietta National Cemetary, I wasn't totally surprised to discover that children (in public school) aren't being taught the true history of Pearl Harbor. When each survivor rose to tell of his role in the events of that day, one man disclosed that his ship had escorted the Japanese to America so that they could go to Washington, D.C. to negotiate a peace treaty. And that, while that process was going on, the Japanese sent their fighters on a stealth mission to wipe out the American naval force stationed at Pearl Harbor. Total, unprovoked, surprise attack; but that isn't how our children learn it today. I am SO glad to have had the opportunity to expose a group of children (and their parents) to real vets, with real stories, before they leave this earth. Most of them are approacing 90 years old, and they are dying off at a rate of 1000 a day. The PHSA active chapters in Georgia went from 7 in 2007 down to 2 in 2008... and I don't know if there will be enough men to even make it to the service next year. I hope so; and if so, we will be there to help them remember "a day that will live in infamy". I'm posting a picture of Adam (and a pack friend) with Mack Abbott, a PHSA member and war hero. I hope Adam will realize down the road how very special it was for him to be able to shake Mack's hand and thank him for his service.