Never Forget: Pearl Harbor Victims Memorialized Once Again

The Dec. 7, 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other military bases on Oahu, Hawaii lasted two hours, leaving 21 U.S. ships heavily damaged and 323 aircraft damaged or destroyed. The attack killed 2,390 people, and graduate John Little, III, was one of them.

Little is still entombed in the U.S.S. Utah, and members of the don't want him or the 2,389 others who died that day to be forgotten.

Each year, the legion members have organized the annual remembrance ceremony, held this year on Sunday.

The ceremony began at Northport's church where local clergy including the Reverend Tim Hoyt Duncan of the ; Rev. Peter Dooley of St. Philip Neri; Rev. Kristina Hansen of ; Monsignor Thomas Colgan of St. Philip Neri and Rabbi Paul Swerdlow of the Center spoke.

Duncan asked for God's blessing for those who died in that surprise attack on American soil and for those soldiers currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

Swerdlow noted how the attacks brought Americans together. He also asked all the veterans at the ceremony to stand so they could be recognized, which they were, with thunderous applause. A special guest was Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Minnock.

Following the church service, the participants made their way down Main Street to the World War II Memorial on the south side of led by Northport Village Mayor George Doll astride his horse named Mr. Callahan.

"It's the obligation of those who weren't yet born to pass on what happened because over 2,000 men and women died on our soil in a sneak attack," Doll said. "We should remember history repeats itself." 

The station led the line of march following Mayor Doll followed by elected officials including New York State Assemblyman Andrew Raia; Huntington Town Council members Susan Berland, Glenda Jackson and Mark Mayoka; Mayor Pat Irving; Northport Village Trustee Damon McMullen, and Northport Village Justice Paul Senzer.

Also present were County Commissioner of Jurors Michael O'Donohoe, a member of the remembrance ceremony committee, and the Town of Huntington's Director of Veteran's Services Carol Rocco.

Following the local officials were the Northport Pipe Band under the direction of Doug Murdoch, veterans and the Northport American Legion Post 694 Color Guard, local boy scouts and the Northport High School Tour Choir under the direction of Ellen McCarthy.

The keynote speaker was the Eaton's Neck Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Pollack who said that there is no way to encapsulate what happened in a way to make people feel better. "Or if there is, it's beyond me to know how." He said that when he thinks of Pearl Harbor, he can't help but think of all the mothers who lost their children.

Following his remarks, Pollack and Northport American Legion's current Commander Thomas Rocco laid a wreath on the World War II ceremony and Northport High School students Dennis Szymanski and Matthew Allen played Echo Taps.

The Pearl Harbor Day Observance Committee is made up of Northport American Legion Post 694 Commander Thomas Rocco, Chairman Robert Grogan, past commanders James Mahoney, Damon McMullen, Anthony Damulewicz, Michael Koulermos, Frank Endee and Michael O'Donohoe.