Veterans gather to remember Pearl Harbor

Dec. 8--ASHTABULA -- Area veterans groups gathered on Saturday to remember the 2,300 soldiers who died at Pearl Harbor almost eight decades ago.

"Today we remember those lost and unsuspecting souls who died 78 years ago on a U.S. Navy base and air station in the Territory of Hawaii giving the full measure of their devotion to God, country and loved ones," said Rev. Len Jury, chaplain to the In-Country Vietnam Veterans during his closing prayer.

He also prayed for the families of those who were killed that are still affected today.

"I can't imagine what it must have been like 78 years ago to be in paradise, or what you thought was paradise, and at 7:57 the attack of Pearl Harbor," said Monte Foltz who organized the event at the Ashtabula War Memorial.

Foltz called the attack the biggest "sucker punch" in American history.

Ernie Barbey placed a wreath at the Private Henry Kalinowski Memorial during the ceremony. Kalinowski, an Ashtabula native, was killed at Pearl Harbor becoming the first city victim of World War II.

A variety of veterans organizations participated in the ceremony including the Private Henry Kalinowski U.S.Marine Corps Detachment, Ashtabula Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ashtabula American Legion.

Jury also brought attention to the many casualties that were never accounted for at Pearl Harbor and the devastation of all the battleships of the Pacific Fleet that either sank or were crippled.

He also asked those in attendance to maintain prayers for the nation's future.

"Please pray daily that there will never be another secret attack of any kind on America, wisdom for our leaders and for every plan of destruction against American to be uncovered and destroyed," Jury said.

He said some of his prayer came from excerpts from a prayer by The Christian Coalition of America written by organization president Roberta Combs.

___

(c)2019 the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio)

Visit the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio) at www.starbeacon.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.