Dwindling Number of Pearl Harbor Survivors Mark 83rd Anniversary

On the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, just two remaining survivors attended the commemoration ceremony, highlighting the swiftly diminishing number of veterans who experienced that fateful day. Ken Stevens, 102, and Ira Schab, 104, were accompanied by only six other World War II veterans, highlighting a significant difference from the annual ceremonies that once saw many survivors in attendance.

The survivors gathered at the front, looking out over the harbor waters where the USS Arizona and other ships met their fate during the surprise attack by Japan on December 7, 1941, an event that prompted the U.S. to enter World War II. Today, fewer than twenty Pearl Harbor survivors remain, many of whom have seen their fellow veterans pass away over the years.

The ceremony held at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a touching tribute to the sacrifices of these veterans and signifies the end of an era. As firsthand witnesses become increasingly rare, the legacy of Pearl Harbor continues to be firmly imprinted in the memories of the few who experienced that day.