As the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor draws closer, it seems only fitting this year’s Veterans Day observance honored members of the Greatest Generation.
“It is my honor to welcome you to the Navy League’s seventh annual Veterans Day program, which honors all veterans of all services in all wars,” said Dick Devlin, copresident of the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League, during last Friday’s Veterans Day ceremony at Oak Harbor High School. “Specifically, we pay tribute to those among us who survived the day of infamy — Dec. 7, 1941 — our Pearl Harbor survivors.”
Peppered with patriotic music from the All-Island Community Band, the Daybreak Trio, the Chancel Choir of Oak Harbor’s First United Methodist Church and Oak Harbor High School’s Harbor Singers, the ceremony was a fitting tribute to all who served in our nation’s military.
“Today we come together to recognize and honor all of those veterans who are on active duty in various uniforms of our nation around the world,” Devlin said. “Those who are retired, those who have served as citizen soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and the reserves.”
Members of the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps of Oak Harbor High School were also on hand, serving not only as unofficial ushers for the event, but in an official capacity — striking the ceremonial bell to start the program and performing the parade of colors.
Guest speaker for the event was Marine Corps veteran and Oak Harbor mayor, Jim Slowik, who praised veterans for fighting for the cause of freedom.
“Whether they served at home or abroad, in war or in peace, they all share the pride of having been a part of something bigger than themselves,” he said. “Above all, they have kept us free. Free to live as we see fit. Free to work, free to worship and free to speak our minds.”
The centerpiece of Friday’s Veterans Day ceremony was a video presentation, “Pearl Harbor — A Time to Remember,” which highlighted the experiences of four area veterans who were present for the attack. Veteran Harry Ferrier, the last survivor of the Battle of Midway, was also included in the presentation.
One by one, Jim Stansell, Cecil Calavan, Tony Nady, Harold Johnson and Ferrier told their stories. None of them was more than 22 years old at the time.
“To me the worst part of that day was the rest of the day and that night,” Johnson, who was 17 years old at the time, recalled in the video. “There were false alarms going off all night long and we just had to find a place in the mess hall to curl up and try to sleep. All you could do was wonder ‘what’s the future? What’s going to happen tomorrow and the next day, and so on.’”
The five World War II survivors took the stage following the video presentation, where members of the Wildcat Battalion of the NJROTC saluted the veterans as part of a symbolic changing of the watch. After a moment of silence to honor departed veterans, the Harbor Singers gave a moving performance of the Navy hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.”
A parting benediction was given by Navy Chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Link, bringing an end to the tribute, those attending perhaps leaving with the thought provided by Mayor Slowik:
“To every veteran, we owe a debt we cannot possibly repay, but we always acknowledge,” he said. “I simply say from the bottom of our collective hearts, thank you veterans. Job well done.”
