Date which will live in infamy..........

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."

 What an awe inspiring experience it was for my boys to visit Pearl Harbor on the 70th anniversary! 

Visiting the USS Arizona was an amazing opportunity to give our boys and ourselves a look back into history.  History, that has forever changed the world and shaped the lives of so many.  It proved an  invaluable opportunity for us to  instill in them a  love of country and gratitude.   I marveled at the boys behavior as they acted respectful without encouragement as I truly believe they felt and sensed the reverence of the memorial. 

Braden asked so many questions and in his innocence could not imagine why people would want to kill each other.  Rand grasped at the teaching moment and answered every question in this inquisitive mind!

We were so fortunate to visit with survivors from Pearl Harbor as most of them were there for the 70th anniversary.  So unique was this experience for the fact that many of them will not be around for much longer.  Their personalities were charming and I could not stop thinking about the lessons my boys were learning.  

The Pearl Harbor Vets were so willing to talk and answer all of our questions.  They showed us pictures and told us stories of their exact locations on the morning that Pearl Harbor was bombed.  

(The man with his arm around Braden was playing football on the Air Force Base the morning of the attack.  He was playing in and out of  planes parked wing to wing, the same planes that would later go up into flight and bring down Japanese airplanes).

We shared a laugh as this gentlemen told us he had abandoned "captains orders" when his ship had been bombed so badly that he started to swim instead of stay below deck!  He was a sailor on the U.S.S. Utah!

Thank you for all those who have served and are now serving in our armed forces!