Charlie Breitrose
Watertown’s veterans marked the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor Wednesday at the Watertown Dock.
Dozens of Watertown’s veterans gathered on the Watertown Square Dock for a somber ceremony to mark one of the most infamous days in American history – the attacks on Pearl Harbor.
Across the nation at noon, wreaths were laid in honor of the 75th anniversary of Japan’s sneak attack on the United States’ Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. In Watertown, the wreath was tossed into the Charles River with the veterans and dozens of others watching.
The town has a connection to that tragic Sunday morning, said Veteran’s Officer Mark Comeiro.
“At about 8 a.m. Japanese planes filled the skies over Pearl Harbor. At 8:10, an 1,800 lb. bomb crashed through the deck of the U.S.S. Arizona and hit the ship’s ammunition magazine and exploded. The ship sunk with over 1,000 men aboard. Philip Zane Darch was one of those killed on the Arizona.”
A road in West Watertown is named in honor of Darch.
Charlie Breitrose
Veterans salute during the playing of Taps in honor of those lost during the Pearl Harbor attacks.
Ed Aucoin, one of the veterans who took part in the ceremony, said the Pearl Harbor remembrance is a tradition in Watertown, and sometimes has been just members of Watertown’s veterans groups. In the last few years has drawn more people, including about 50 this year, but he would like to see more.
“I would like to see a crowd much bigger,” Aucoin said. “Bigger crowds come out to burn candles for Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and that’s a sin.”
The attack on Pearl Harbor is one of those events that helped shape the United States, and should be recalled be all, Aucoin said.
“You can’t forget. You have to remember, just like 9/11,” Aucoin said.
Charlie Breitrose
Watertown Veterans Officer Mark Comeiro and a Watertown veteran watch the wreath in honor of Pearl Harbor float down the Charles River in Watertown Square.
I agree with your comment ” Aucoin said. “Bigger crowds come out to burn candles for Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and that’s a sin.” I would add that it is not only a sin, but it is disgusting. I can only imagine that the candle burners probably never served their country and especially during wartime so they have no idea of what our warriors went through.
I believe that publicly accusing people of sin earns you a trip to the confessional.
I fully agree that Pearl Harbor and the American lives lost that day deserve respect and remembrance, period full stop. However, no one should compare or judge turnouts at memorial events, it’s gross and detracts from our collective humanity.
Anyone of this opinion might consider that when history is taught (that’s how most people learned about it as it was 75 years ago), the American losses of 2,000 lives at Pearl Harbor pale in comparison to the price that Japan paid for the attack which was 100 times that number with 200,000 Japanese lives lost at Nagasaki and Hiroshima not to mention the environmental destruction of nuclear attacks.
It’s unfortunate that anyone would choose to denigrate others, especially over how and what they publicly mourn. Guilt over more than 200,000 human lives lost in “collateral damage” weighs on people pretty heavily, as it should. It is not disgusting for people to gather to remember and should not be characterized that way. Also, Hawaii’s not exactly in danger of attack from Japan but nuclear proliferation is still a serious global concern that citizens will rally against – all of these things could have contributed to turnouts high and low.
Mr. Aucoin, thank you for your service, please do not feel slighted by the turnout, people do remember, just not everyone prefers to or is able to attend public remembrances.
Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice for your country Phillip Zane Darch of Watertown, I enjoyed reading about your life and will think of you whenever I drive by your street.
Let he who is without sin…
Congratulations to Cristopher Patvakanian for writing the essay “Philip Zane Darch: Seaman 1st Class, Selfless Hero”. It is heartening to learn about students spending their time to create future positive marks into society while not forgetting the history. Many forward accomplishments Mr. Cristopher!