VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The 80th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor is on Tuesday, and local events were held to remember that tragic day.
The attacks happened on December 7, 1941.
The Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story honored the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice by hosting the Annual Pearl Harbor Survivors Remembrance Ceremony on December 7. More than 3,600 servicemen were wounded or lost their lives on that day and propelled the United States into World War II.
The service at the base was not open to the public, but News 3 was there and you can take a look at the wreath laying ceremony above.
Francine Gagne, the daughter of a Pearl Harbor survivor, comes every year to remember her father.
"He passed away five years ago, but we always came to the ceremony here to remember this very special day," she said.
Susie Rice, another daughter of a survivor, wears a pin every year to remember her father, his comrades and their families.
"It was given to me by my dear friend... who was the wife of a Pearl Harbor survivor, too," Rice explained. "She was special to me, so this pin signifies a special remembrance day for me."
Rice was there that day in 1941. She was just a little girl playing on the lawn when the bombs dropped.
"My mother heard the explosion. She came out, and I was in the backyard... literally, they were right above our house," said Rice. "She got my father out of bed; he threw on some pants, kissed her and ran."
The ceremony began at JEB Little Creek Chapel and transition over to the Pearl Harbor Monument.
Active duty service members and members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association were in attendance.
A guest speaker for the service was Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Sailor of the Year Culinary Specialist 1st Class Joi Morrison.
The Pearl Harbor memorial was built and dedicated in 1990 by the PHSA Tidewater Chapter 2. An expansion to the monument was completed in 2001, which includes 184 names of known local survivors of the attack.
Click here for more coverage on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
