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December 7th marks the anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. The two hour sneak attack by the Japanese left nearly 20 American naval vessels and more than 300 airplanes destroyed. Over 2,000 lives were lost and another 1,000 American soldiers and sailors were left injured.

It’s a date that not many people living today remember. Either they were not born yet or were too young to remember what happened that day.

Three days later, after Congress approved President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s request to wage war on Japan, the United States joined other nations in World War II.

Much has changed for America since that day, but the feelings that survivors have about that day have not changed. Across the nation, December 7th is a national day of remembrance although there are not too many living that remember or lived the events of the day. It’s a day that belongs to the history books.

In Hawaii, the war memorials for the attack are alive and thriving. This December 7th, people from all backgrounds will stand on Kilo Pier with the USS Arizona Memorial behind them to remember what happened. At the memorial, visitors can see pieces of metal from the downed ship in the water. The metal is still wet with oil that continuously leaks from the ship 75 years later. In addition, Hangar 79 at the Pacific Aviation Museum holds artifacts recovered from the site. December 7th, 1941 was a day of great loss for our country. It entered us into a war and the pain of the attack is still felt by survivors today. Now, we remember those who lost their lives in service to our country and try to keep their memory alive.

On December 7th, and every day, we remember the great sacrifice our soldiers and sailors made.

The U.S.S. Arizona was completely destroyed and the U.S.S. Oklahoma capsized. A total of 12 ships sank or were beached in the attack and nine additional vessels were damaged. More than 160 aircraft were destroyed and more than 150 others damaged.

By the time WWII ended, 418,500 Americans died to save the world from tyranny. That is why December 7th will always be a day of infamy – and one of the most significant days in history.

The reality of that symbolic truth cannot and should not be overlooked – public education is the strength in which America’s freedoms are taught and passed down to generations of school children.

Our veterans made the ultimate sacrifice, and they should never be forgotten.

But back to today.

Imagine what the world would be like today had America and its allies not been successful in winning WWII.

Imagine the darkness, the oppression, the sheer brutality that would exist around the world. Many groups of people (if not entire countries) would probably no longer exist, having been wiped off the face of the earth through genocide and sheer evil.

America will never forget what happened December 7th, 1941.

It was a day that shook the nation.

And the rest of the world should not forget, either.

The message to this generation: “You are the leaders, you are the taxpayers, you are the voters, you are the legislators. Weakness invites aggression; we must keep America strong.”