Reflection on Pearl Harbor

by Sarah Palin on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 2:32pm ·

On December 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on the U. S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in which thousands of Americans lost their lives and our naval fleet was severely damaged. The events of that day, which President Franklin Roosevelt vowed would “live in infamy,” proved for many Americans that aggressors would not simply ignore us if we ignored them. The attack on Pearl Harbor launched America into the Second World War, and our Greatest Generation did not hesitate when asked to sacrifice for their country. American men enlisted in droves, American women went to work in the factories that became our “Arsenal of Democracy,” and many Americans gave what little money they had to buy the war bonds that funded it all. They stormed the beaches at Normandy and fought on little known islands in the Pacific in the name of liberty. They don’t ask for our thanks, but I hope we will continue to give it because the sacrifice that began at Pearl Harbor is one of the many events that have defined the United States of America as “the last best hope of man on earth.”

- Sarah Palin

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  • Park Shin Hye, Palinistas Unite, Janey Waite and 7,579 others like this.
    • Stefan Katsanos I couldn't agree more, you're a blessing Governor Palin!
      December 13, 2009 at 2:17pm
    • Patrick O'Connor My dad served in WWII as a Merchant Marine, he finally received his medals in 2008 .. the local paper wrote a nice article about him, but conveniently left out the part of his son of 30yrs military service that got him the medals and presented by the Capt. of the U.S.S. Jeremiah O'Brian ... it was as though they (the media) wanted to forget about WWII and our military!
      December 15, 2009 at 7:11pm
    • Erin Quinn hawaii wasn't part of the us in 1941...
      anyway, this is a very important topic. some people in my family faught in the war, for the british army though, and they were so hopeful for a beter tomorrow, they were willing to sacricfice their lives than to just let neighbors be treateed unfairly
      December 15, 2009 at 7:17pm
    • Yolanda Halik
      I grew up in Hawaii. My parents and siblings were going to church that fateful Sunday morning when the planes came. As a young child, I heard the stories. It wasn't until I was a young adult did I visit Pearl Harbor. In the distance, I c...ould see where my parents would have seen the assault as our family home was at the base of Diamond Head. I couldn't imagine the horror they must have seen that morning until that very moment.

      My parents and most of my siblings are gone now, but I have the stories that were told to me, and will be passed down to my grandchildren.      See More
      December 15, 2009 at 11:08pm
    • Matt Bartel alternative energy!
      December 16, 2009 at 6:57pm
    • Bob Turner Sarah Elizabeth Morrison, you are a disgrace commenting rudely on someone you don't even know. I find most libs act like this. I look foward to next November when we Conservatives take America back.....
      December 17, 2009 at 10:16pm
    • Bonnie Savage my sons grandpa was on that ship,at pearl harbor and luckly we
      got him back but so many others were lost
      December 18, 2009 at 2:43pm
    • Sharon Adams Sarah Elizabeth Morrison - real class, hiding behind a mask and spouting ignorant junk.
      December 18, 2009 at 6:51pm
    • Dick Minton
      I equate the attack on Pearl Harbor to the attack on the Twin Towers and it saddens me that the attack on the Towers didn't evoke the same kind of response from the citizens of this country as Pearl did. I did my time during "Nam" and I wis...h I were still young enough to fight the good fight now. In any event, you represent the true spirit of America to me Madam Governor, and my vote is yours anytime you need it or want it. And if you need campaign workers, although physically incapable of pounding the sidewalks, I can still write a mean letter and pound the keyboard at a decent rate.See More
      December 20, 2009 at 3:18pm
    • Dick Minton Sarah Elizabeth Morrison, if Governor Palin is a disgrace, then in the pecking order, you are one step below the sludge in the sewage of this country.
      December 20, 2009 at 3:22pm
    • David P Redmond Sarah, please give this issue the attention it deserves...

      9/11 Never Forget Coalition group against the civilian trials in lower manhattan for 9/11 war criminals

      http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=192313319719&ref=ts
      December 20, 2009 at 6:25pm
    • Shawn Higgins And we should thank the American soldiers who were in Hawai'i to colonize and exploit the native Hawai'ians in the first place?
      December 22, 2009 at 11:36am
    • Dick Minton
      The American soldiier has no choice as to where he or she is sent, but I suppose the Hawiian's felt so victimized that they voted for statehood, is that correct Shawn? And if the American soldiier did not have a presence in Pearl Harbor on ...December 7, it wouldn't have been just an air attack, it would have been an invasion. A Japanese occupancy would have been more than just exploitation, it would have been a tragedy, ask any native Philliipine citizen about occupancy under the Japanese Empire. They'll tell you about "exploitation" Shawn.See More
      December 22, 2009 at 3:33pm
    • Brenda Surgoine like this.
      December 22, 2009 at 5:34pm
    • Trevor Quigley one of history , sadest days
      December 24, 2009 at 6:49pm
    • Peter Miller Glad Mrs. Palin used the phrase surprise attack instead of sneak attack!
      December 25, 2009 at 5:11am
    • Dick Minton I don't follow your rationale for the above statement Mr. Miller. Pearl Harbor was attacked b4 Japan declared war against the United States, therefore, it was a "sneak attack".
      December 27, 2009 at 2:14am
    • Doris Allen It's a shame that the "NEWS MEDIA" did not do a better job of covering this terrible day. But, that's the liberal news
      media for you.
      December 27, 2009 at 3:02am
    • Susan Carroll Seeing the memorial is heart wrenching. truly moves the soal of a Patriot.
      December 27, 2009 at 8:49pm
    • Charles Gilbert The point is Americans came together for liberty. We are loosing those inch by inch right now and sleeping away at this sneak attack. The above statements show we squabble over details as our liberties are shot down one by one. What is it going to take for use to come together again?
      December 28, 2009 at 4:08am
    • James E Harp I HAD BEEN IN THE ARMY AND HOME ON FIRST FURLOUGH WHEN THE JAPS ATTACKED.GOT BACK TO MY OUTFIT JUST IN TIME TO DEPLOY TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW GUINEA IN 1942.GOT BACK HOME IN MAY OF 45.
      December 29, 2009 at 8:02am
    • Dick Minton I salute you James E Harp. Unfortunately, those of us whom served during the Vietnam era weren't so well received when we returned home. But, none the less, I praise and admire your generation of warriors.
      December 29, 2009 at 11:27pm
    • Bernardine AndMack Williams
      we well remember that day--it was sunday and a big crowd had gathered for the evening service at the old country church in brownville community near evergreen , al. few people had cars but woodrow tatum had one and came to church to announ...ce that we were at war-pearl harbor had been attacked by the japs--we did not dream that we would be so envolved in that war--we're 83 and 84 yrs old and the scar's remain--AMERICA IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR !See More
      January 1, 2010 at 7:31pm
    • Africkah Bambaataa im all for honoring pearl harbor, but it wasnt a surprise attack. there was a miscommunication and the attack was an accident. they arent going to tell you that in the history books.
      January 2, 2010 at 7:59am
    • Sharon K. Erdely I hadn't been born with the bombing of Pearl Harbor but I have seen a lot of news reels and I want to visit their water tombs before I die to honor them. Here's a scarey thing my grandmother died December 7, 1962 and 18 years later my Aunt was struck and killed by a car on December 7,
      I'm getting hold when I can't remember the date.
      January 4, 2010 at 2:33pm
    • Roy A. Rogers To Erika Raymond: Why are you so full of hate for your country?
      January 4, 2010 at 4:18pm
    • Edward Sosnowski Did you just find that out?
      January 7, 2010 at 9:32am
    • Danna Nickoson What happened to patriotism? Watching Old Glory wave in a breeze puts a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes when I think of what it means to me. I had an Uncle at Pearl Harbor who went on to fight the Japanese another day, and a great-grandfather in the Civil War; patriotism was instilled in me at any early age and something to be proud of.
      January 7, 2010 at 5:58pm
    • Maria Reiter On that day, Dec 7th 1941, I believe we lost approximately as many people at Pearl Harbor as we did in the twin towers on 9/11. Wonder why this administration does not recognize our enemy for who they are?
      January 7, 2010 at 7:33pm
    • Zack Bohannon You are just finding this out now. Your wording is of a third grader.
      January 9, 2010 at 11:37am
    • Brenda Sexton Napoli It does not matter how the words are said. What matters is that it comes from the heart.
      January 12, 2010 at 11:10pm
    • Nancy Coulson Elias Sara, how do you feel about International child abduction?
      January 15, 2010 at 7:00pm
    • Nancy Coulson Elias
      My son served in Iraq, married a Japanese national, had 2 children, born in U.S and the mother and her boyfriend abducted the children to Japan. There are over 2800 children that have been abducted from the U.S leaving behind families begg...ing for its governments help. My son fought for this country and now he has NO children. There are so many servicemen who have fallen victim to these crimes due to their overseas tours and we are fighting desperatly for help.See More
      January 15, 2010 at 7:18pm
    • Laura E Fear Justice sorry buddy nobody WANTS to slobber on your bone!!!
      January 16, 2010 at 6:12am