Members of American Legion Post 187 execute the Three Volley Rifle Salute during a remembrance of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

On Saturday, December 7, members of American Legion Post 187 gathered at the Winfield boat ramp on the Kanawha River to hold a remembrance ceremony of the 1941 attack upon the U.S. Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The 1:00 p.m. ceremony start time coincided with the 8:00 a.m. Hawaii time of the first wave of the Japanese aerial assault.

Following the posting of Colors by the Hurricane and Winfield High School Future Leaders Cadets and Invocation by Post 187 Chaplain Kenny Bright, post historian Delbert Brannon reviewed the tragic losses of that 83 year-old-day and the events leading up to and following the attack. Of the 2,400 Americans killed in the attack, 106 were crewmen from West Virginia. Brannon recounted the sinking of the battleship USS West Virginia and the heroism which averted a far greater loss of life. The USS West Virginia was raised from the watery depth, repaired, and returned to service. It was present at Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, when formal surrender documents were signed aboard the USS Missouri.

The ceremony culminated with the laying of wreaths upon the water at the boat dock and followed by the Three Volley Rifle Salute and the sounding of Taps.

Post 187 has participated in many Pearl Harbor ceremonies over the years. This year’s observance, however, was the first ever at Winfield. The Post plans to use the beautiful facilities at the Winfield Boat Ramp for all future December 7th observances.