Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony Moved To Veterans Museum In West Haven

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — Wednesday’s Pearl Harbor ceremony at 10:30 a.m. has been moved indoors because of anticipated rain.

The city and the West Haven Veterans Council will now observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at the West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center, 30 Hood Terrace.

All veterans are invited to participate in the solemn service, which will commemorate the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The public is also invited.

The annual ceremony will commence with a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Police Honor Guard and a flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard.

It will feature remarks by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Louis P. Esposito Jr., Rossi’s executive assistant and the master of ceremonies.

Florence Stoeber, representing the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, and West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien will read the names of the 18 Connecticut servicemen who died in the Japanese bombing of the U.S. Navy base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. A firefighter will toll the department’s chrome bell each instant a name is called.

Connecticut’s last known Pearl Harbor survivor died in 2020 at age 99.

The Pearl Harbor tribute will include the Pledge of Allegiance led by Cub Scouts, the national anthem sung by Ana Garcia, and opening and closing prayers given by Vertical Church Pastor Randal Alquist.

It will also include a wreath-laying by Veterans Council members and taps played by retired West Shore Fire Department Lt. Kevin McKeon.

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.