The American Airpower Museum hosted the annual Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony today. We had four PH Survivors in attendance. Following several speakers, the survivors were presented with Presidential Proclamations, then a Navy Chaplin blessed 69 roses - one for each year since the attack - using water collected near the USS Arizona. The roses were then taken by one of the Skytyper SNJs and dropped in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty.
The four survivors (seated) - William Halleran, Gerard Barbosa, Seymour Blutt and Bernard Berner.
Seymour Blutt salutes the National Anthem. I've seen Mr. Blutt and his daughter at the ceremony the past five years, and I've sort of "adopted" him. In 2006, his daughter asked if I would send her some photos of the ceremony, but never sent me her contact info. The same happened the next couple of years - finally last year, I took her address, and sent along a CD of photos. Last year, I finally had the chance to chat with Mr. Blutt. Turns out he was in the Army Air Corps (no wonder I like him!) at Wheeler Field at the time of the attack. We had the chance to renew our acquaintance today. Mr. Blutt is 92 years old, and his daughter said he wasn't feeling well yesterday, but he wasn't about to miss the ceremony today.
Col. Thomas Owens, Commander of the 106th Air Rescue Wing, presents a Presidential Proclamation to Gerard Barbosa.
US Navy Reserve Chaplin, Captain Ronald Klose blessing the roses.
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