News-Info-Alerts

Re: Peral Harbor, POWs Remembered

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: December 08, 2002

"Pearl Harbor, POWs remembered

BY SPENCER SCHEIN
STAFF WRITER
Published: Sunday, December 8, 2002

STERLING — The first Day of Infamy was remembered Saturday morning in a solemn Pearl Harbor Day ceremony at Triangle Park.

Around 65 people attended the annual ceremony, with about 40 having marched several blocks to the park from Sterling American Legion Post 296 Hall, 601 First Ave. The marchers included about 15 Legion members, a color guard from the Sterling-Rock Falls Association of Clubs, other club members and a few children.

They were escorted by a Sterling Police squad, with the marchers assembling under a sunny sky at the snow-blanketed park.

"Regardless of the weather, we will be here Dec. 7," said Pete Johannsen, 75, of Sterling. Johannsen is past finance commander of the Sterling American Legion and waited at the park for the marchers to arrive. A "bum knee and hip" kept him from marching this year.

Roy Phillips, Pearl Harbor survivor and president of the association of clubs, spoke to the group during the 10-minute ceremony at the park.

"Those who saw, could not believe, and those who heard, could not conceive," Phillips said, reading from a poem he reads at each Pearl Harbor ceremony.

"You've heard it before, but you'll hear it again," he said.

The poem told how soldiers were asleep in their barracks at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when Japan launched its sneak attack at 7:55 a.m. Dec. 7, 1941.

The two-wave attack killed 2,343 sailors, soldiers, marines and civilians, with another 1,272 people wounded, and 960 missing. Five battle ships were destroyed.

"We must never forget the prisoners of war," Phillips said. "More men died in Japanese prisoner of war camps than died in the entire Vietnam War."

"The Japanese had their fate in their own hands, we didn't," he said. "Everyone who enjoys the freedoms we have should thank God it was us who had the atomic bomb and not the Japanese.

"We did what we did and we did it well," he said.

A memorial wreath was placed in front of a tablet, cast from metal from the USS Maine. The tablet, which lies in front of a cannon with wooden wheels, reads, "In Memoriam USS Maine Destroyed in Havanah Harbor Feb. 15th, 1898."

The Rev. April McClure of First Christian Church of Rock Falls, gave the opening and closing prayer.

Sterling Mayor Ted M. Aggen, also a past commander of the Sterling American Legion, provided introductions.

"Let us all remember all the troops we have around the world today, protecting us against one enemy or another," Aggen said.

A gun salute and the playing of "Taps" concluded the ceremony.

Copyright 2002 Sauk Valley Newspapers "