#PEARL HARBOR DAY REMEMBRANCE HOW TO#

Moreover, comprehensive resources to help overcome symptoms of PTSD didn’t exist or were narrowly available. Veterans experience PTSD before, but took on names like shell shock or combat fatigue. PTSD didn’t become recognized by the American Psychiatric Association until 1980. This includes veterans who sustained service-related injuries or live with chronic pain, factors that increase the risk of misusing prescription medication. In addition, veterans who don’t receive the necessary mental health care often turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. Generations of veterans continue to struggle with these symptoms. The effects of combat exposure haven’t changed since then. Despite his quick, initial reaction to help his son, pulling him out from the water brought back memories from the shore of Pearl Harbor. For instance, Sterling Cale shares a memory of feeling paralyzed as his son is unexpectedly swept away by an ocean wave during a family picnic on the beach. Many Pearl Harbor survivors struggled with flashbacks, survivor’s guilt, and anger that lasted until their passing decades later. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn’t often the focus of discussion for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. But the symptoms of this mental health disorder were a reality for those who witnessed the attack. Why Discussing Mental Health Is Important as a Veteran Back then, Sterling Cale was a 20-year-old pharmacist and trained Navy diver who was responsible for rescuing bodies from the USS Arizona. On the other hand, veterans like Sterling Cale regularly spend time at the memorial to preserve the memories of those who were lost. Some of them had their ashes placed inside the wreckage as a way to once again be with old friends who didn’t make it out. Today many veterans who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor have since passed. The USS Utah shares a similar fate with a memorial honoring the crew on the northwest shore of Ford Island.Īt the time, many Pearl Harbor survivors remained in Hawaii and helped at the memorial despite the lingering trauma from the attack. An estimated 1 million people come to pay their respects each year. This memorial is built atop the original sunken ship where many of the sailors and marines remain entombed. One famous memorial included in the exhibit includes the USS Arizona. The memorial displays information about the attack from the day of as well as the aftermath still felt across the nation. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial serves as a reminder of loss as well as an educational exhibit for current and future generations.

#PEARL HARBOR DAY REMEMBRANCE HOW TO#

How to Commemorate Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day However, these events don’t show the difficult healing journey the surviving civilians and veterans had ahead of them.Ĭonfidential Form | Why Choose Heroes’ Mile? Since 1994, on behalf of President Bill Clinton, National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is honored with a variety of remembrance events, many of which are hosted at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii.Īlthough Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day isn’t a federal holiday, all American flags are to be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor the service members and civilians who were killed. The result was the United States declaring war on Japan, marking the nation’s entrance into World War II. Roosevelt gave his famous “Day of Infamy Speech” in which he proclaimed December 7, 1941, as a “date which will live in infamy.” In addition to the speech, President Roosevelt held a joint session with the United States Congress. Some of the destruction remains at the site of Pearl Harbor to this day. About 2,403 service members and civilians were killed during a surprise attack on the Naval shipyard by Japanese forces. This day honors the thousands of military personnel who were injured or lost their lives on this fateful day.

In the United States, December 7th is referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day. The History of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day While paying your respects on the 81st anniversary of the 1994 attack on Pearl Harbor, take a moment to consider how your experiences in the service have affected your mental health. Those who survived the Japanese attack carried on the legacy of the brothers and sisters they lost, but not without the physical and emotional scars generations of veterans are familiar with. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is commemorated every year to honor the brave individuals who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. Addiction and Mental Health Services for Veterans.Why Discussing Mental Health Is Important as a Veteran.How to Commemorate Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.The History of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Pearl harbor day remembrance