The Annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day was held on Saturday, December 7, at 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Square at the City-County Complex Building.
City of Dillon Mayor Tally McColl welcomed everyone to the event. He made brief comments including that we all talk about our freedom. We all can devote at least this one time a year to honor our local Dillon County Veterans and for the families of the 62 Dillon County men and 1 woman who died during World War II, and for our Military Forces.
Dillon County Veteran John Harlow was the guest speaker. His comments are as follows:
WE COME TOGETHER TODAY TO REMEMBER THE DECEMBER 7TH 1941 SURPRISE ATTACK ON UNITED STATES FORCES BY JAPAN AT PEARL HARBOR.
A DAY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT SAID WOULD LIVE IN INFAMY.
2,403 MILITARY TROOPS AND CIIVILAIN WORKERS WERE KILLED IN THAT ATTACK. HALF THOSE KILLED WERE ON THE USS ARIZONA.
ANOTHER 1,178 WERE WOUNDED.
IS THERE SOMEONE HERE WHO HAD A FAMILY MEMBER OR FAMILY FRIEND AT PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 7TH 1941?
THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR USHERED THE UNITED STATES INTO THE ONGOING WAR IN EUROPE AGAINST GERMANY, JAPAN, AND ITALY. WORLD WAR II.
ULTiMATELY, 420,000 AMERICAN MILITARY PERSONNEL DIED DURING WORLD WAR II. 63 OF THEM ARE NAMED ON THIS MEMORIAL WALL.
WE ARE HERE TO HONOR THOSE 63 SERVICE MEMBERS, AND ALL OF THE MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN KILLED DURING WORLD WAR II. AND ALL OF THE 16 MILLION AMERICANS WHO SERVED DURING WORLD WAR II.
ARE THERE ANY WORLD WAR II VETERANS HERE THIS MORNING?
THERE NUMBERS ARE DECLINING. IF YOU WERE 18 IN 1941, YOU WOULD BE 101 YEARS OLD TODAY.
AS YOU LOOK AT THOSE NAMES, YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE FAMILIAR DILLON COUNTY SURNAMES.
THEIR DESCENDANTS STILL LIVE HERE.
WHO HERE TODAY HAS A FAMILY MEMBER OR FAMILY FRIEND NAMED ON THIS MEMORIAL WALL FROM WORLD WAR II?
AGAIN, WE HONOR TODAY THOSE MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED DURING WORLD WAR II.
OUR DILLON COUNTY SONS AND DAUGHTERS HAVE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY SINCE BEFORE THE FOUNDING DILLON COUNTY. AND EVEN TODAY, DILLON COUNTY MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN ARE SERVING AT FORWARD DEPLOYED AREAS IN FAR AWAY AND DANGEROUS PLACES. I ASK BISHOP GOINGS IN HIS PRAYERS TODAY, AND ALL OF US, TO KEEP OUR FORWARD DEPLOYED FORCES IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
GOD BLESS OUR WORLD WAR II VETERANS, GOD BLESS ALL OUR MILITARY FORCES, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Bishop Michael Goings of the Outreach Family Fellowship offered a prayer for World War II Veterans and their families.
DCSCVOYO Thom Thompson made brief comments.
Dillon High School student Keniah Owens sang “God Bless America”.
City of Dillon Mayor Tally McColl, Dillon County Councilman Kenny Cook, Jr., and DCSCVOYO Commander Thom Thompson placed a wreath at the Memorial Wall. The wreath was donated by the City of Dillon.
Everyone sang “Taps”.
County of Dillon Councilman Kenny Cook, Jr. had closing remarks and thanked everyone for inviting him.
Bishop Michael Goings of Outreach Family Fellowship had the closing prayer.
Hope to see you at next year’s Second Annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to be held on December 7, 2025.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Johnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC
