Posted by Crystal on December 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment
“Seventy years ago today, a Sunday, my parents and I were visiting at the home of my grandparents in Sackets Harbor, NY. My grandfather, who was a big sports fan, was listening to a professional football game on the radio. I was standing close by when this message came on, “We interrupt this program to bring you a special bulletin, the Associated Press has just announced that the Japanese have bombed the U. S. Naval Station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from the air. Please stay tuned for further information.” My grandmother came out of the kitchen with her apron on and my parents came down stairs where they had been packing to go home to Carthage. I don’t remember what they talked about, but I do know there was great concern. We got in our 1934 Ford and headed home which was about 30 miles away. I was seven years old.
I remember a whole lot of things about WWII, but mostly I remember the spirit of the American people and how we all pulled together. We were just coming out of the great depression and yet when the call came to serve in whatever capacity was needed, there were long lines of volunteers. We were totally unprepared for this war and could have easily lost it. At first the news from the war front was very bad, but then the news that Jimmy Doolittle had led 16 B-25 Bombers on a raid over Tokyo, really lifted our spirits. No one could imagine where these bombers took off from because we had no bases within range of Tokyo. When asked, President Roosevelt said, “They took off from Shangri-la.” They actually took off from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet. Stories about sacrifice and bravery in WWII still keep coming out and I don’t think I will ever run out of books to read about them.
In 1943, my father was teaching high school chemistry and physics in Carthage, NY. He responded to an advertisement, “Scientist wanted to work on project X, a project that will help win the war.” He was hired to work on what would be known as the “Manhattan Project,” the making of the Atomic Bomb. We moved to Oak Ridge, TN which would be later called “The Secret City” or “The City Behind The Fence.” When we have our family reunion in Gatlinburg this summer, we will go to Oak Ridge and I will tell you my story.”
Below are You Tube links to Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor speech and General Eisenhower’s D – Day speech. Note their reference to God. These two men and Winston Churchill were men who were brought forth to serve in these perilous times.
Hey everyone, I just wanted to give you a little update. I am finished with all of the quotes, but I am still working on saving them in a printable format. They should be ready for sale by tomorrow. Thanks for your patience as I have a lot going on right now. I will also have an update on the planner by the end of this week…I can’t wait to share with you what I’ve been working on!
