At 7:48 a.m., 78 years ago today, the world changed forever when 2,403 Americans were killed by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
The USS West Virginia was one of the ships anchored in Hawaii that day and 106 sailors died on the ship named for the Mountain State.
“This mast, of the USS West Virginia, standing here behind me, stands at the heart of this university and it is all that remains of a once proud battleship, dreadnought,” Ret. Col. Douglas Flohr said. “Ultimately one of the survivors of the pearl harbor attack.”
WVU held its annual memorial commemorating the attack that launched America into World War II Friday morning in front of that mast and bell, which
came from armored cruiser West Virginia that was renamed Huntington.
The ceremony was started in 1973 by now-92-year-old Billy Williams, a World War II veteran and member of VFW 548. Williams said he started the memorial because Morgantown did not have anything to commemorate those who fought in the war. He also served as the memorial’s chaplain for several years
“It makes me mad for ‘em to have these holidays on other days instead of the day it’s supposed to be,” Williams said of Friday’s ceremony. “Like Veterans Day and Memorial Day, it should be on the day it’s supposed to be and not on another day.”
Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Williams said he plans to visit the mast today, even if he’s alone. He noted a similar situation happened years ago and several other people also showed up on Dec. 7, despite the ceremony being held earlier.
Area veteran groups, including Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters, the U.S. Marine Corps League, chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, WVU student veterans, WVU ROTC cadets and a bugler from the 249th Army Band participated in Friday’s ceremony, which included a wreath-laying and bell-ringing.
Jonathan Friend, quartermaster of VFW 548, said it’s always an honor to take part in the ceremony.
“It’s very unique to have the mast and the bell here on the campus at WVU,” Friend said. “It’d be great to continue to let the students know what this is. There’s many students that walk past it every day and don’t even know what it really is. It’s very important to continue the history of our nation and show the students what is here.”
