Survivors, veterans gather to remember those killed at Pearl Harbor, 80 years ago

Several dozen survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack will gather Tuesday in Hawaii at the site of the Japanese bombing that took place 80 years ago to remember and pay tribute to those lost in the attack that catapulted the U.S. into World War II participation.

A moment of silence will be observed at 7:55 a.m. local time, the moment the attack began, followed by a speech from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro.

One survivor of the attack, Herb Elfring – who is now 99-years-old – told the Associated Press that he remembers thee Japanese zero planes flying overhead during the attack and bullets raining down on his Army base a few miles down the coast from the harbor.

The attack killed more than 2,300 U.S. troops, nearly half of whom were Marines and sailors stationed aboard the USS Arizona. 

The ceremony this year, which is expected to include about 130 veterans of the war, will take place against the backdrop of significant winds and extremely heavy rains hitting Hawaii. A spokesperson for the Navy confirmed to the AP that no plans to cancel the event had yet been put into action.