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On December 7, 1941 forces of the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked U.S. military installations on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The primary focus of the attack was the massive naval anchorage at Pearl Harbor. The destruction was devastating to our forces with a great loss of life and the destruction to naval vessels and aircraft throughout the island.

On December 8, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt went before the Congress of the United States and stated that December 7th 1941 was a day that would live in infamy and further requested and received a decalaration of war against Japan. Thus began the Pacific Theater actions of World War II.

Each December 7th our nation pauses to commorate, honor, and remember those men and women that lost their lives on that day of infamy in 1941. This year VFW Post 3377 members headed by Post Quartermaster Robert Whitaker, Honor Guard members Larry Bartes, Jim Linville, and Jose Vargas, and Post Chaplan J.O. Duncan conducted a flag folding, flag presentation, and flag raising ceremony for the 7th and 8th grade students of Strickland Christan School, Austin, Texas.

The ceremony was also attended by special guest VFW Post 3377 member Andy Desrochers a surviving member of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Andy was present on that December 7th 1941 and remembers it well. In his remarks to the students Andy explained what it meant to be a Pearl Harbor survivor and the importance of each year remembering that day and those that lost their life.

The slideshow below are photos of the presentation at Strickland Christian School on December 7, 2009.