, when 2,343 United States service personnel and 68 civilians were killed in an unprovoked attack by the Japanese. An additional 960 people were missing and 1,272 were wounded in the coordinated air raids that day, which also sunk or damaged eight battleships at Pearl Harbor.
The events of that infamous day caused President Delano Roosevelt to call for Congress to issue a Declaration of War against the Empire of Japan the very next day, and then three days after that, to authorize the United States to join the war against Germany and Italy, Japan's two Axis partners.
Attended by a color guard, and representing veterans from around the area, the group tossed a commemorative wreath into Mill River and offered prayers of remembrance and peace.
Some of those who gathered Dec. 7 at Mill River to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day. Pictured from left, are George Andoucci from the Rockville Centre American Legion Post #303; RVC Police Commissioner Jack McKeon; Paul Kuchler, Post 303; Rev. Harald Kuehne, emeritus, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; Charles Cino, Post #303; Trustee Andrew Karamouzis; Carl Ippolito, Post #303; Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby; RVC Deputy Mayor Chuck Joyce; Peter Scaturro, Post #303; RVC Mayor Mary Bossart and Msgr. Robert Guglielmone, St. Agnes Cathedral Parish pastor.
Photos by Judy Rattner/Herald
