Go over to your wall calendar and see if there's anything printed on it for today (or yesterday, if you happen to be reading this on Monday). Not that you put there, but what the calendar manufacturer put on there.
Is it blank, or do you see something?
Well, something's missing from mine.
It used to be that every calendar I bought had this day marked. I'm a bit dismayed to discover that this particular calendar forgot to include a day I consider to be one of the most impacting, important days in our history.
And just to be snotty, but more importantly, to make sure you remember, I'm not going to tell you what today is. I want you to leave me a comment and tell me. No fair reading off other people's comments, either.
After taking fifteen comments ...
Most of you did pretty well. I do need to correct one misconception, however - Pearl Harbor didn't start World War II. We were already at war in Europe. Pearl Harbor brought us into war with Japan, thereby making the war a two-pronged effort for the United States as we sent military forces into the Pacific and to Europe.
Pearl Harbor was a completely unprecedented event in our history. Things had been simmering with Japan for a little while, but more on a government level - Japan was unhappy with the United States for interfering with the nasty doings Japan was trying to carry out with China. The American people had no reason to think there might be some kind of attack. All our attention was focused on Europe, and that's part of what made the Pearl Harbor attack so shocking. We feared the Nazis, but all of a sudden, our people were being shot down by a new enemy from a new frontier.
I want to know why this event is not still on our calendars. I haven't purchased my 2009 calendar yet, but I'm going to see if I can find one that still remembers.
And because David mentioned the USS Arizona, when I went searching for an image for this blog, I decided on this one.
Do not forget. Do not let your children forget. When we forget these moments of our history, we forget who we are.Now, if I could only find a calendar that has August 6th marked, I'd be a completely happy camper. But I don't suppose the calendar makers consider that day important, either.
22 comments:
Pearl Harbor Day.
Pearl Harbor Day - how quickly we forget. Sad.
My father, who was close to 40 years old, enlisted the day after.
Easy, no mention of the attack on Pearl Harbor. My calendar does not show it either, how wrong.
Wasn't yesterday the commemoration of when Pearl Harbor was bombed? That significant day launched us into WWII.
Pearl Harbor???
Of course you'd know that, wouldn't you? :-)
I remember. I'll hint at it in case other commenters don't know. But I'll say it's something pretty darn connected to your first two books, especially your first one and how your main character's family was treated. Thanks for the reminder. I was actually thinking that it'll be easier for later generations to remember 9/11 simply because the date is in the name.
Oh yeah...Definitely. Pear Harbor day. We reflect on this every year -- and watch either Tora Tora Tora or Pearl Harbor. (the first half) It was somewhat sobering to realize it's been 67 years ago yesterday...and how much people have forgotten. Even more grim is how quickly they have forgotten 9/11. sigh.
Pearl Harbor; a day that will live in infamy--or not. It's not on my calendar either, but the Queen's birthday and Grandparents day is. Sad.
Pearl Harbor happened on dec 7th, didn't it? i don't have a wall calender to look at to see what was missing, so i'm guessing that's what it is.
by the way, i love your christmas music. My finch has been singing to it since i came to your site this morning. :)
Pearl Harbor Day.
um, I didn't look at the calendar but I'm gonna say Pearl Harbor?
December 7th is D day or Pearl Harbor Day. It is the anniversary of when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and brought the US into WWII. We eneded the war when we dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan. It is definately a day worth remembering. Thanks for the reminder, Tristi.
Arizona sinking...
Epiphany? No, that's January, isn't it?
December 6th is the night of the three kings, isn't it? When the cute little German children put their shoes outside their front door to see if St. Nick will fill them with candy.
I wonder if President Uctdorf still does that?
It's Pearl Harbor Day
thank you fro reminding us that yes, of course its the day in 1941 that we got attacked. depending upon who you read and listen to, however, it's the day we entered WWII. some say we were in it long before, and we egged the attack on.
I remember the day, because it's my Grandmothers birthday. I thought, how nice it was that the scouts put flags in our ward on Grandma's birthday.
as for remembering, It's nice to remember, but if we remember only to dwell on the negative in our lives, perhaps we remember the wrong things.
you are right though, if we remember 9-11 we must also remember Dec 7. It shaped our destiny and it should be on our calendar, as well as D Day or the battle of the bulge, then there was Tet 1968, and the day the Battaan death march began. of course there was the day in August when Millions died in Japan.
Thanks for reminding us
I don't mean that we should remember it because it was negative, but that we should remember it because of the bravery of our soldiers. You can definitely look at it from either angle.
Good catch, Tristi! I always think Pearl Harbor day in June 6th but that is another commemoration day...right?
Oh my good gravy! Can I use the excuse that I'm English for not getting that one? =Þ
I only recently learned enough about Pearl Harbor to understand the magnitude of how awful it was. But I do remember as I was growing up, always having it acknowledged on the day, in remembrance.
Well, I'm late in commenting, so the question has been answered and explained well. There are so many significant, historical moments that should be remembered but, unfortunately, they're not. Great post!!
August 6, 1945: Bombing of Hiroshima. A piece of trivia: the nuclear weapon was dubbed "Little Boy". August 9 saw the "detonation of the "Fat Man" nuclear bomb over Nagasake." (courtesy of Wikipedia)
January 6: Three Kings Day
I'll never forget Jan. 6 because we were in Puerto Rico one year where this is a major holiday.
Obviously, I had to look up August 6. My calendar was no help.
Is there an unlucky omen for the number 6?
LeeAnn
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