On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day U.S. Flags Lowered To Half Staff on Saturday

President Donald Trump issued a president proclamation on Friday urging Federal agencies and interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag at half-staff On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Saturday.

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

Trump's proclamation was issued to remember the 2,335 U.S. troops and 68 civilians killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack was conducted by Japanese forces around 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941.

Just before 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, airplanes launched from the Empire of Japan’s aircraft carriers dropped bombs and torpedoes from the sky, attacking our ships moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor and other military assets around Oahu.

Following this swift assault, the United States Pacific Fleet and most of the Army and Marine airfields on the island were left decimated. Most tragically, 2,335 American service members and 68 civilians were killed, marking that fateful day as one of the deadliest in our Nation’s history.

Despite the shock of the attack, American service members at Pearl Harbor fought back with extraordinary courage and resilience. Sprinting through a hailstorm of lead, pilots rushed to the few remaining planes and took to the skies to fend off the incoming Japanese attackers.

Soldiers on the ground fired nearly 300,000 rounds of ammunition and fearlessly rushed to the aid of their wounded brothers in arms. As a solemn testament to the heroism that abounded that day, 15 American servicemen were awarded the Medal of Honor 10 of which were awarded posthumously. In one remarkable act of bravery, Doris “Dorie” Miller, a steward aboard the USS West Virginia, manned a machine gun and successfully shot down multiple Japanese aircraft despite not having been trained to use the weapon.

For his valor, Miller was awarded the Navy Cross and was the first African-American recognized with this honor.

The Pearl Harbor National Memorial will also hold a ceremony Saturday, starting at 7:50 a.m. HT.