Memorial Coliseum hosts Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Wednesday, Dec. 7, marks the 81st anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In light of the anniversary, the Marine Corps League and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum held a Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony.

All were welcome to attend the event and honor the lives who were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,300 U.S. troops died in the attack.

The ceremony included laying of wreaths, lighting of candles, and singing of God Bless America.Matt Newell is an active duty Navy Sailor and has served for 5 years. He says it’s important to remember those who lost their lives while fighting for our country.

“You always hear people say the heroes and stuff, their the real heroes the ones that passed away and gone before us because without them we would not be free right now, who knows where we’d be as a country,” Newell said.

Jerry Andrews served in the U.S. Army and Air Force and is a retired Airmen. He also empathized the importance of paying respect to those who died while fighting for the United States, and says it’s something he installed in his children as well.

“The ones who gave their life for this country to stay free, you got to remember,” Andrews said. “You just, you know what can I say? It’s something you think about daily. At least I do.”

The ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. and was held in Memorial Hall.