National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day, is observed annually in the
United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise
attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, which led to the
United States declaring war on Japan the next day and thus entering
World War II.
In 1994, the
United States Congress, by
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)103–308, 108
Stat.1169, designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.[1] The joint resolution was signed by President
Bill Clinton on August 23, 1994. It became
36 U.S.C.§ 129 (Patriotic and National Observances and Ceremonies) of the
United States Code.[2] On November 29, Clinton issued a proclamation declaring December 7, 1994, the first National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.[3]
On Pearl Harbor Day, the
American flag should be flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who died as a result of the attack on U.S. military forces in Hawaii.[4] Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday – government offices, schools, and businesses do not close. Some organizations may hold special events in memory of those killed or injured at Pearl Harbor.[4]
Canada declared war on Japan within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor,[5] the first Western nation to do so. On December 8, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II on the side of
the Allies. In a speech to Congress, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt called the bombing of Pearl Harbor "
a date which will live in infamy."[4][6]
Pearl Harbor and Ford Island historic sites
In Pearl Harbor:
The
USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is a marble memorial over the sunken battleship
USS Arizona, which was dedicated on May 30, 1962 ("
Memorial Day"), in honor of the 1,177 crew members who were killed. The memorial remembers all military personnel who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack. Note: This site is open to the public with boat tours to the memorial provided by the US Navy from the visitors center.
The
USS Oklahoma Memorial is in remembrance of a battleship that was sunk which lost 429 men on December 7, 1941.[7]
The
USS Utah Memorial, is in remembrance of a former battleship that had been converted to a target ship in 1931 (thus, at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack carried the designation of AG-16), that was sunk in the attack on December 7, 1941.[8] A memorial to honor the crew including the 58 who died aboard USS Utah was dedicated on the northwest shore of
Ford Island, near the ship's wreck, in 1972. The ship, along with USS Arizona, was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
The
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park is in remembrance of an American submarine that sank 44 ships in World War II.[9] Note: This site is adjacent to the
USS Arizona Memorial Visitors Center.
Also on Ford Island. Note: Ford Island remains an active military installation therefore public access is restricted to approved tours, military personnel, military retirees, NOAA personnel and their family members only.
The
USS Missouri Memorial.[10] The surrender of the Japanese on the deck of USS Missouri brought the end of World War II.
In 1990, leading up to the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress established the
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal. This is also known as the Pearl Harbor Survivor's medal and was awarded to anyone who was in the U.S. Armed Forces and who was present in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, and participated in combat operations that day against the attack. The medal was also awarded to civilians who were killed or injured in the attack. A few years later, Congress amended the law to allow any person who was present in
Hawaii on December 7, 1941, and was involved in combat operations against Japanese military forces attacking Hawaii, to receive the award. In both instances, there was a limited time period to apply for the award, and it is no longer issued.[13]
(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific
racial/ethnic group or
sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) =
Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies