By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent
They lay a wreath every year, to mark the solemn anniversary – this the 74th – of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It’s one part gratitude, one part tradition.
Senator Donald Norcross said, “It’s those who gave their lives so our country could continue. At the time, the 2,400 that were killed and over 1,000 injured, it was the most horrific act ever perpetrated on America.”
But it wouldn’t be the last. Many here noted that as the years add on, so too do the commemorations for those who have lost their lives in attacks on American soil.
Edward T. McDonnell, Deputy Freeholder Director for Camden County said, “I see a comparison to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor in the sense that it was not expected, we were not at war, it was a sneak attack so to speak. The impact of both was profound, the impact of Pearl Harbor was of course WWII for the U.S. the impact of 9/11 we still see it every day the war at least ended in 1945, you go to an airport now or a concert venue you’re still being searched so the impact of 9/11 goes on.”
Pearl Harbor was the catalyst to U.S. involvement in World War II. Russell Collins remembers. He served on the Battleship New Jersey from 1943 to 1946. What does it mean to him to be able to hold this commemoration on the ship he served? “Proud. I’m one of the oldest members here at 90, a lot of memories here and I tell a lot of people different things about what happened, this and that, when they come by. It’s a thrill for me to be able to tell them you know, back when.”
“The thing that’s most staggering to me is that 1100 of the people who died in Pearl Harbor were crew members of the ship, they had just filled that ship the day before with a million and a half gallons of fuel, so when the bombers hit the ship the inferno must have been absolutely unbelievable,” continued McDonnell.
Which is why Camden and Gloucester County Veterans Affairs programs use the Battleship, the most decorated in U.S. history, to reflect on the past and prepare for the future.
Nor cross added, “Certainly I don’t think anyone in America is accustomed to the type of terrorism that is being portrayed onto the American people, anytime anywhere. The traditional wars, we do very well, this is new ground for us as a country to make sure we maintain our freedoms, our commitment to the constitution but most importantly, keep Americans safe.”
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, congressman Donald Norcross says he receives information on emerging threats, daily. “We hear the threats from around the world as they come to us, the fact that they hit that part of California obviously was a surprise, but knowing they are planning day in and day out to disrupt our American way of life, is unfortunately not a surprise.”
So a call to action from Congressman Norcross and those gathered to commemorate the attacks asking everyone to honor those who served before and for all men and women, whether in uniform or not, to be vigiliant, because this they say, is our wake up call.