Pearl Harbor survivors and veterans congregated at NAS Whidbey Thursday to commemorate the 65th anniversary of “a date which will live in infamy.”

During the solemn ceremony, Navy Chaplain Lt. Philip King remembered the more than 2,000 Americans who lost their lives.

“Today on the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we as sailors and warriors of this generation, together with our shipmates of that greatest generation, gather our different beliefs and varied experiences, our divergent customs, and with the one voice invoke the one God whose peace and grace are promised to all,” King said during the stirring invocation.

Highly decorated Col. William J. Flannery, commanding officer, Marine Aviation Training Support, Group 53, expressed his awe at the valiance displayed by a generation that grew up during the Depression and fought and died for their country on Dec. 7, 1941 and afterwards.

“For the last few years as I’ve read other books about World War II, I’ve been continually amazed by what this generation of Americans was able to accomplish against such tremendous odds,” Flannery said. “The greatness of America, our spirit and determination, was certainly forged from the great undertaking that was required to defeat our enemies in those days. History has shown that given any challenge or to make any sacrifice for its citizens, we’ll certainly rise to meet those challenges.”

Flannery thanked the survivors in attendance at the commemoration and assured them that the new generation of servicemen and women are equally up to the challenge of fighting for freedom and securing the nation in the same manner as the Pearl Harbor survivors did more than six decades ago.

American soldiers continue to answer the call to duty. Flannery used Marine Corp. J. Dunham as an example of contemporary heroism. The 22-year-old Scio, N.Y. native was killed in action on April 14, 2004 in Iraq when, after a hand-to-hand struggle with an insurgent, the soldier jumped on a live grenade dropped by the Iraqi.

“Dunham quickly jumped on the grenade as it lay on the street, using his Kevlar helmet and body to smother the blast,” Flannery recounted. “Shrapnel pierced the corporal’s skull and he died eight days later. Three of his fellow Marines were injured in the blast, but survived only due to the courage and quick action of Corporal Dunham.”

President Bush recently approved awarding the Medal of Honor to the corporal posthumously.

Pearl Harbor survivor Jim Stansell, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Chapter 5, said the number of living veterans who were serving in Hawaii on that fateful day is dwindling.

“Over these past many years, Father Time has taken his toll, leaving our ranks sadly depleted,” Stansell said at the ceremony. “Although we are very few in number, we still pause on Dec. 7 to remember our fallen heroes. We also pause and give thought and a prayer to the many thousands who, over these past 65 years, have been reassigned, and by that I mean Father Time.”

Stansell’s chapter has approximately 16 members remaining, over half of whom were attending what could be the final memorial actually held in Pearl Harbor with survivors.

“As I understand it, this is to be the last one over there,” he said. “I was asked a little bit ago, ‘Well, how come they’re not going to have any more?’ And somebody standing beside me said, ‘My gawd, it’s been 65 years. How young do you think we are?’”

Stansell did not mince words when describing how the Americans who died in Pearl Harbor should be remembered.

“It left nearly 3,000 of our young men heroes,” he said. “By that, I mean they’re still there. And they are, ladies and gentlemen, they are heroes.”

The commemoration concluded with Stansell and Flannery laying a wreath in Oak Harbor to honor those who perished in the attack. A 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps dampened eyes and served as a fitting end to a reverent ceremony.