County Commissioners proclaim Pearl Harbor Remembrance Week

The Board of Clermont County Commissioners has proclaimed Dec. 6 – 12 as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Week in Clermont County.

The proclamation, accepted by local Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Whitt, recognized the sacrifices and unparalleled heroism that occurred on Dec. 7, 1941, when a sudden attack on the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor took the lives of more than 2,400 Americans, injuring many others.

“As Americans who enjoy the blessings of living in a free nation today, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who defended our nation on that day in 1941,” said Board of County Commissioners President Ed Humphrey, reading the proclamation.  “We are grateful for all who have answered duty’s call in defense of our nation.”  

On Dec. 7, in conjunction with a declaration issued by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, all flags on county government buildings were flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset.

Eighty six-year-old Whitt, who was stationed on the USS San Francisco, recalls the shock of that December day in 1941.

"There was so much noise," he said. "There was no time to be afraid, we just grabbed our rifles and went up to the ship's top deck and opened fire on the Japanese attackers. They were right on top of us. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the horrors I saw that day; those of us who were there have never been the same since."

During the commissioners' session Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, the Board also presented Bill Engeman and Bill Miller with a certificate of appreciation for their work in making the Matt Maupin Pavilion at Eastfork State Park a reality.