LatinaLista — Today is the 68th anniversary of when Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was bombed by Japanese forces, and which triggered the U.S. entry into World War II.
In line with how our nation physically remembers/salutes the loss of American lives in horrific (historic) events in our country, state governors, one after another, are issuing proclamations to mark this day as “Pearl Harbor Day.”
It is a day that for many Latino families takes on special significance.
It’s estimated that anywhere from 250,000 to as many as 750,000 Latinos and Latinas served in the armed forces during World War II. Yet, their stories were never known outside their immediate families. The U.S. Latino & Latina World War II Oral History Project has changed that.
This organization, based at the University of Texas at Austin, has championed the presence of Latino/a World War II veterans so no one ever forgets and new generations of Latinos/as know the proud contributions of those who came before them.
Today, there is a vital Latino contribution in honoring all those who died at Pearl Harbor. In a 2008 story from Latina Lista’s Hometown News Partner Hispanic Hawaii News, there is one Latino whose sole job is to relive Pearl Harbor day in and day out so no one forgets.
Comment(1)
The Latino Connection to Pearl Harbor Lives on Today « You Are Strong! Center on Veterans Health and Human Services
[…] https://latinalista.com/2009/12/the_latino_connection_to_pearl_harbor_li/ On January 14, 2013 / National Hispanic Veterans Advocacy Network (NHVAN), NHVAN and Latina Lista National Editorial Initiative, Xiomara A. Sosa / Leave a comment […]