December 7th... Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Today's date is a date that was to live in Infamy for years, decades, etc., to come. Has it? Can you remember what today's date is? Without having to check your calendar?

The Arizona's Funnel ~ Pearl Harbor, HI

The Arizona's "tears," continually wept for
those who lost their lives in a cowardly attack
on a country not even involved, yet, in the war.
"I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and
filled him with a terrible resolve."
attributed to Gen. Yamamoto (tho' in question)

 There was a terrible resolve made that day. A resolve to defend the defenseless, our people, and our country no matter the cost. Can we say the same, today? This country pulled together for years during WWI and WWII but, today, we seem to quickly forget our resolve to defend against an enemy that would see us dead, or worse. Who will weep for our dead in the future? Who still remembers this century's Day of Infamy as well as the previous Day of Infamy?


TEARS FROM THE DEEP

Tears are still wept, tho' the heart's made of steel, For men nigh forgot tho' a Nation should feel. They died in a war, tho' no battle fought they, On what became known as an Infamous Day. Tears from the Deep, tho' the heartbeat is cold, For valorous men who will never grow old. Entombed in the dark, by water enshrined, Stood ready 'gainst all, by Freedom defined.          Tho' many have come, so few shed a tear.          They call to us, now, do the whisper you hear?          They are the reason this Nation stood fast!          The weeping, so soft, do you hear it at last? Tears are still wept to help us recall, Tho' few still remember they gave us their all; From way down below, to the Oceans' safe keep, Seeping up for reminders are Tears from the Deep.

© Copyright 2011 Pam Sears (condorsfan at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.

PEARL HARBOR REMEMBERANCE DAY

I couldn't let this Day of Infamy go by without saying something, without sharing the poet in me.  I was able to go to Oahu with my family this past August and we made a point of visiting the Arizona Memorial as well as several other areas at Pearl Harbor.  It's needed.  We need to remember what happened.  What we thought would never happen.  And what our country was forced to do to defend it's people.  And, defense it was.  Not revenge.  Not acquisition.  Defense.  Protection. 

Love.

Those men and women, they gave their lives for us.  Yes, it was a cowardly attack by a cowardly enemy. Yes, they caught us unawares, but not unprepared.  We rallied.  We struck back.  They "woke a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible purpose" and that purpose was to remove the threat to our Nation.  Remember those who died.  Remember those who survived. Remember the Arizona. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember a Day of Infamy.



Oil from the Arizon
her Tears from the Deep



Tears From The Deep

Tears are still wept, tho' the heart's made of steel,
For men nigh forgot tho' a Nation should feel.
They died in a war, tho' no battle fought they,
On what became known as an Infamous Day.

Tears from the Deep, tho' the heartbeat is cold,
For valourous men who will never grow old.
Entombed in the dark, by water enshrined,
Stood ready 'gainst all, by Freedom defined.

          Tho' many have come, so few shed a tear.
          They call to us, now, do the whisper you hear?
          They are the reason this Nation stood fast!
          The weeping, so soft! do you hear it at last?

Tears are still wept to help us recall,
Tho' few still remember they gave us their all;

From way down below, to the Oceans' safe keep,

Seeping up for reminders are Tears from the Deep.

 © Copyright 2011 Pam Sears (UN: condorsfan at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
permission to use, reprint or repost this poem must be obtained from the author