Last Friday my husband, Boe, and I both attended the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony at the American Legion Post here in Fountain Hills. It was a lovely, well-done and moving ceremony. We thank the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander for organizing the ceremony as well as the American Legion for lending its facility when it appeared an outdoor ceremony at our town’s lovely Veterans Memorial would be rained upon.

Thanks to the Commanders of the American Legion, Marine Corps League and the VFW for their organizations’ participation in the ceremony. And thanks to Debbie Fisher, who does such a wonderful musical performance at so many veterans-related events. It was also wonderful to see a number of WWII veterans present and to have them recognized.

It was a pleasure to witness how many Fountain Hills residents actually took the time out of their day to attend.

All of us attendees were given leis to wear. After the ceremony, Boe and I went about our errands and business in town and were asked multiple times if we were going to Hawaii or just returning. We used the leis to explain about the Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony. We got several replies that the person did not know about the ceremony and also replies that the person wished they had attended. It was a nice touch by VFW Commander, Ron Smith, to have the VFW buy leis for everyone.

Those of us who attended the ceremony will never forget the horrific surprise attack that brought this great country into WWII or the sacrifice of our service members.