Those were the words spoken by the President of the United States of America in his speech before the Senate, to describe the surprise and devastating air attack against the naval base of Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, home of the Pacific fleet by forces of the Japanese Empire, on December 7, 1941.
When the attack ended, casualties on the US side were 2,403 dead and 1,178 wounded in action, in addition to a long list of totally lost and/or damaged ships, as well as a large number of aircraft. This action provoked the United States to declare war on Japan, after a passionate speech before the Senate by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The surprise attack caused a profound impact on the American people and led directly to the entry of Americans in World War II, both in the Pacific and in European theaters. The next day, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan and several days later, on December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
On September 11, 2001, another day that will live in ignominy, the mainland of the United States was attacked in a series of suicide attacks against the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington by members of al-Qaeda with the result of the loss of almost 3,000 civilians.
Closer to home, in Boston, on April 15, 2013 during the celebration of the Boston Marathon two explosions occurred, stopping the race while serving more than 200 people who were injured plus 3 spectators who were killed. Terrorists are everywhere, and they come from everywhere.
The attacks carried out in New York were perpetrated by 19 foreigners from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon who departed from Boston on separate flights and the Boston Marathon by two students from Chechnya, a region of Russia that lived in the area.
This December 7th and especially this Christmas, when families tend to gather and enjoy peace, let us raise a prayer for those who, seventy-six years ago, gave their all defending our principles and ideology and also for those who entered the burning towers, when everyone was trying to get out of them as well as by our local heroes who went to help the victims of the Marathon bombs.
Let’s not forget them for their sacrifice and for what they have done for humanity, especially not let their sacrifice have been in vain!
