I was fortunate to visit Pearl Harbour in 2018 & learn the history from a few veterans who were there the same day.

It is true that this is a day that should be commemorated. One observation I would make with respect to this surprise attack is that the surprise was for the vast majority of the world, but not for FDR and his top cabinet staff. There is reason to believe it wasn’t a complete surprise to the President of the US nor his top administration and DoD leadership.

America, by and large, was an Isolationist nation that refused to enter the Great War against the Axis powers of Germany and Italy (and Japan). FDR may well have known about the impending attack on Pearl Harbor, but chose not to communicate the info and prepare the military for it in order to force the support by the American people (and Congress) to enter a war that would cost the lives of 60,000,000-85,000,000 people (depending upon the sources) as well as countless devastation before it was over.

Once we were attacked by Japan, all bets were off and Congress declared war against the aggressor, Japan. After entering a war with Japan, it became strategically imperative to defeat the Axis powers. In the long run, we were responsible for ending the most devastating war this world has ever seen, but until the attack on Pearl Harbor, we had only a few independent Americans that didn’t represent America who fought alongside the Allies.

The great generation of Americans that honorably fought that war may not have wanted to get involved, but when they were called upon to sacrifice all to end the war against the tyrannical aggressors, they did so honorably and should be remembered for their sacrifices. Those sacrifices were made by nearly every American alive at that time. We remember not only the 2400 that lost their lives on that day, but the generation of honorable, self sacrificing people that were willing to give up so much to bring peace and freedom back to a dangerous world; one in which evil people sought to inflict their tyranny on them.

Remember to thank Grandma and Grandpa if they are still alive for the sacrifices they endured to give you your current freedom (what remains of it) and be ready to sacrifice for your grandchildren’s future in the fight against our current tyrants.