December 7

70 years ago today the Imperialist country of Japan bombed our U.S. forces in Hawaii. The day that will live "in infamy" is older than almost every living human being on planet Earth today. Do we remember?

Anyone living then and who does remember is in their late 70's and the soldiers of that era would be about 88 years old. There are very few of them left.

I was one year old when that date was 10 years ago so all I know is what I have read and what I have been told. LuAnn and I will be at the Arizona Memorial in February for our first visit to the last state of our now 50 states, together. Hawaii wasn't even a state when that invasion occurred.

As World War II started, every man woman and child in our country was involved in this conflict. All eligible men were drafted into our army as we joined Russia to fight Hitler on one side of the world and Japan on the other. Every citizen sacrificed from fighting to raising food to producing the war machine.

Mule1 wrote yesterday that "Tomorrow is pearl harbor day and American went to war. The world best generation built tanks, planes, ships, fought and won the war. Some stayed home to grow food to feed the world and it was all needed. We owe them all out thanks for out freedom today. All gave some and some gave all. I salute all of you from that generation and say thanks. Also thanks to our neighbors to the north..."

So do we remember? I remember what I have been told and have seen in movies and read in books. How long before we forget?

In many ways I think we already have forgotten. The world has changed greatly from that day in infamy 70 years ago.

Christmas is only two weeks away and the year will soon be 2012.

The memory of 2011 will last awhile for farmers.

Ed Winkle