SILVER CREEK - Those lost and those who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 were remembered with a ceremony and a wreath by veterans of the Silver Creek Samuel Cimino VFW Post 6472.
The ceremony opened at 10:55 a.m. in Silver Creek, at the time of 7:55 a.m. in Honolulu when the USS Arizona began sounding the alarm on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. It began with a prayer given in memory of those lost on that day, as well as the remaining survivors.
Following the opening prayer, VFW Commander Ed Fik introduced the veterans present standing guard inside the post to his right, as well as members of auxiliary and other veterans' groups.
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OBSERVER Photo by Shirley Pulawski
Silver Creek Overseas Veterans Board President Jim Lisa cast a wreath into the lake to honor those lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, while other veterans looked on.
After the firing of the guns, the group went back inside and Fik asked everyone, "to remember at 1 o'clock, all of those who were lost at Pearl Harbor." The attack began at 1 p.m. EST, and left 3,500 dead or wounded, 18 ships sunk or damaged and 350 aircraft destroyed.
A bell was rung three times for those lost at the Pearl Harbor attack, followed by the sound of the boatswain whistle, which signaled the honor guard to attention, and the group marched outside.
Three members of the honor guard, Wayne Hartinger, Dick Brenner, and John Leatherbarrow, fired ceremonial guns in a nine-gun salute outside the post, while Frank Borrello played "Taps" on the trumpet for the somber occasion.
The group proceeded to the lake, at Borrello Park, to cast a ceremonial wreath into the lake as is done in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor. After another ceremonial nine-gun salute fired over the lake, Silver Creek Overseas Veterans Board President Jim Lisa stood with the other veterans present before casting the wreath into the lake. Lisa explained a similar wreath ceremony is conducted at Pearl Harbor every year to commemorate those lost in the attack.
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