Little Egypt Heritage Articles eduda tsunogisdi © Bill Oliver 10 December 2006 Vol 5 Issue: #40 ISBN: pending O’siyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, “Day of Infamy” This past week witnessed the passing of an event that I remember, though I was not on the spot to witness it. However, the number of those who did witness the “Day of Infamy” are rapidly disappearing from this plane. The 7th of December 1941 has two associations for me. The first was sitting on a hill overlooking the harbor in Bermuda. I could see the harbor and beyond. My interest was being captivated by a ‘tender’ re-supplying submarines. They were German U-boats. A bit brazen I’ve always thought. The second event was, of course, the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Imperial Navy. The organization, ‘Survivors of Pearl Harbor, have met on the seventh of December for many years, but due to their dwindling numbers, many chapters have disbanded and passed their records and assets to other organizations to keep the ‘Day of Infamy’ from totally disappearing. For the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor there is no expectation of returning in five years for the 70th anniversary to salute their friends who did not survive. One man was quoted as saying, “We’re like the dodo bird, we’re almost extinct.” Sixty-eight years ago, when the Civil War Veterans, both the Blue and the Grey, met, they shook hands marking the passing of that generation. “Time Marches On”, the newsreels used to say, and as such, the collective memory fades. Those who have lived during most of the 20th century have this fading feeling because some of these events were important to us. Right after World War I there was Armistice Day to commemorate the end to formal hostilities of that war. That day has since been transformed into Veteran’s Day and celebrates all veterans of all wars. Currently most folks are aware of and concerned about fighting in Aphganistan and Iraq while Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea and World War II are fading in the collective memory in direct proportion to the distance of time to the event. During World War II many of us who were around during that war remember the motto, “Remember Pearl Harbor” posted in many places. To this the ‘survivors’ added, “Keep America Alert”. This year, Tom Brokaw keynoted the ceremony and spoke, reiterating that those who came of age during the Great Depression and World War II were of “The Greatest Generation”. My parents were of that generation and I would agree with Mr. Brokaw. Mr Brokaw further said that, “America in an instant became the land of the indivisible.” Another true statement. Even the children felt part of the whole by saving ‘tin foil’, string, etc., etc. e-la-Di-e-das-Di ha-WI NV-WA-do-hi-ya NV-WA-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- 439 PostScript: "Myths are universal and timeless stories that reflect and shape our lives ..." Alexander McCall Smith, Dream Angus