Seventy years ago, 2,402 American servicemen and 57 civilians were killed during the early hours of a Sunday. An additional 1,247 servicemen were wounded. The attack was called "unprovoked and dastardly". It was one of the worst defeats in our military history.
From the ashes of the burning ships and wrecked airfields America arose, and as we have always done in the past, we tightened our belts, spat on our hands and set to work. We sent the flower of our youth, into the fire of battle and defeated our enemies. We had bootstrapped ourselves up from almost 20 years of economic disaster to become the economic powerhouse of the world. In less than five years, Japan, Germany and Italy had all fallen before the allied forces. We were magnanimous in our victory, requiring neither tribute nor title. We shared our wealth, knowledge and philosophy with all and sundry, with various levels of success.
In peace, we strove to remember our fallen warriors. The more than thousand sailors and marines entombed in their ships and the thousand plus others who are buried ashore are honored by the USS Arizona Memorial. The twenty-four hunded rough men who stood watch at night to protect us from our enemies.
The question is, could we do it again? Could we save ourselves from looming disaster. Do we have the courage and commitment? Do we have the principles? Can we do what that "Greatest Generation" managed to seventy years ago? I don't know.
Recessional
God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hosts be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
From the ashes of the burning ships and wrecked airfields America arose, and as we have always done in the past, we tightened our belts, spat on our hands and set to work. We sent the flower of our youth, into the fire of battle and defeated our enemies. We had bootstrapped ourselves up from almost 20 years of economic disaster to become the economic powerhouse of the world. In less than five years, Japan, Germany and Italy had all fallen before the allied forces. We were magnanimous in our victory, requiring neither tribute nor title. We shared our wealth, knowledge and philosophy with all and sundry, with various levels of success.
In peace, we strove to remember our fallen warriors. The more than thousand sailors and marines entombed in their ships and the thousand plus others who are buried ashore are honored by the USS Arizona Memorial. The twenty-four hunded rough men who stood watch at night to protect us from our enemies.
The question is, could we do it again? Could we save ourselves from looming disaster. Do we have the courage and commitment? Do we have the principles? Can we do what that "Greatest Generation" managed to seventy years ago? I don't know.
Recessional
God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hosts be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
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