Memorial Service Will Mark 49th Pearl Harbor Anniversary

The 49th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor will be marked today with a memorial service at the visitor center over the sunken battleship Arizona. It will honor the 2,403 people who were killed in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that drew the United States into World War II.

Ted Mason, a Pearl Harbor survivor and author of the book “Battleship Sailor,” will be the keynote speaker.

A special prayer will be offered by a representative of the World Federation of Japan Religious Committee.

The ceremony will include a flyover by F-15 jets from the Hawaii Air National Guard, a 21-gun salute by U.S. Marines and taps played by the Fleet Marine Force Band.

During the day, American flags will be briefly raised, then lowered, at the Arizona Memorial. They later will be offered to the 50 states, the White House and U.S. territories to be flown as part of next year’s 50th anniversary of the attack.