Download NEWS RELEASE - Virginia War Memorial

NEWS RELEASE
December 1, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeb Hockman, (O) 804.786.2074 (C) 804.239.2447 ([email protected])
73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony
To Be Held At Virginia War Memorial
Navy League Will Honor Survivors and Casualties of Surprise Attack That Brought U.S. into
World War II on December 7, 1941
(Richmond, Va.) The 73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony will
be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 7 at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.
Co-hosted by the Richmond Council, Navy League of the United States and the Virginia War
Memorial Educational Foundation, the annual ceremony will be held in the Shrine of Memory on
the grounds of the War Memorial at 621 South Belvidere Street. The event is free and the public
is encouraged to attend.
According to Tom Hassell, president of the Navy League’s Richmond Council, the
Remembrance will include the laying of wreathes in memory of those Virginians who died on
Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 when Japanese forces bombed and strafed the U.S. Pacific
fleet and Army airfield at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
“The names of each Virginian who perished at Pearl Harbor will be read and remembered by the
tolling of the ship’s bell from the USS Virginia, which is on permanent display at the Virginia
War Memorial,” Hassell said.
“In past years, we have been blessed to have hosted veterans who survived the attack at the
ceremony. We are hoping to have one or two of these survivors in attendance this year.
Unfortunately, many of these heroes have passed on and some who survive are too ill to attend.
It is up to all of us to assure that none of them are ever forgotten.”
More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded during the surprise
attack which resulted in the United States declaring war on the Japanese Empire and entering
World War II.
(more)
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial, Page 2
For more information on the 73rd Commonwealth’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony,
please call 804-786-2060 or visit www.vawarmemorial.org .
About the Navy League of the United States
The Navy League of the United States (NLUS) was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of
the President Theodore Roosevelt. The Navy League has grown into the foremost citizens’
organization to serve, support, and stand with all the sea services – U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine
Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine. The Navy League is comprised of
50,000 civilians in more than 250 councils around the world to support sea service members and
their families. For more information, go to www.navyleague.org.
For more information on the Richmond Council, Navy League of the United States, please call
804.355.7557 or visit www.navyleague-richmond.com
About the Virginia War Memorial
The Virginia War Memorial is a division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The
Memorial’s mission is to Honor Veterans, Preserve History, Educate Youth and Instill
Patriotism in All. Dedicated in 1956, the Memorial includes the names of the nearly 12,000
Virginia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the
Persian Gulf and the ongoing Global War on Terrorism
Situated on over four acres overlooking downtown Richmond and the James River at 621 South
Belvidere St., the Virginia War Memorial also includes the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education
Center which houses military-related exhibits, programs and theaters showing the award-winning
Virginians At War documentary series and the multi-dimensional film, Into Battle.
The Galanti Education Center is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon- 4
p.m. The Shrine of Memory and grounds are open from 5 a.m. – 12 midnight daily. All events
at the Virginia War Memorial are free unless otherwise noted. For more information, call
804.786.2060 or visit www.vawarmemorial.org or www.facebook.com/virginiawarmemorial.
About the Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation
The Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation (VWMEF) is the non-profit 501 (c) (3)
corporation dedicated to the financial support of the educational and patriotic programs of the
Virginia War Memorial. Donations to the Foundation from individuals, corporations, military
and veterans groups and other organizations may be tax-deductible and are encouraged and
appreciated. For more information, please visit www.vawarmemorial.org and click on Get
Involved.
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