Arizona pays tribute to Pearl Harbor heroes during Phoenix event
Dec 7, 2018, 3:15 PM
Pearl Harbor survivor Marvin Rewerts died in November, but he wasn't forgotten at the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. (KTAR Photo/Ali Vetnar)
(KTAR Photo/Ali Vetnar)
PHOENIX – At 10:55 a.m. Friday, two World War II-era planes flew over Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza in downtown Phoenix.
The flyover by a Boeing B-17G and a Douglas C-47A coincided with the time it was in Arizona when Japanese bombs started dropping on Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941.
The military planes were part of the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony outside the state Capitol.
The event commemorated the 77th anniversary of the attack that killed more than 2,000 U.S. military personnel and prompted the nation to enter World War II.
The Commemorative Air Force conducts a flyover at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza at 10:55 a.m. — local time of the attack on #PearlHarbor — as Arizonans gather to pay tribute to those who lost their lives 77 years ago. @AZVETS @AZCAF pic.twitter.com/0ulKzBn0mF
— The 9th Floor (@9thFloorAZ) December 7, 2018
Hundreds of people, including many veterans, three of whom were serving during the attack, were on hand.
Maurice Storck, 96, said one member of his company, Marvin Rewerts, died two weeks ago.
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“He was three months younger than me, and he just died, and I’m the last member of the 198 members that were at Pearl Harbor,” said Storck, who is still an active volunteer at the VA hospital in Tucson.
Rewerts was represented at the ceremony by a photo and his Pearl Harbor Survivor cap.
Gov. Doug Ducey was among the speakers, and he told the stories of several Pearl Harbor heroes with Arizona ties.
“Words can never repay the eternal debt of gratitude we owe you and everyone who served at Pearl Harbor,” Ducey said.
“Today, Arizona says thank you.”
