National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is annually on December 7, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, during World War II.
Pearl Harbor was the scene of a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Just before 8 a.m., hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base and damaged or destroyed nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died and another 1,000 people were wounded, according to History.com.
The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is not a public holiday, but flags are flown at half-mast to honor the American servicemen and women who lost their lives or were injured.
