Number 045 HMLV - 01/30/95 HCR 5 - PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY CO-CHAIRMAN KOTT introduced HCR 5 (Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day). He said Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack against the United States forces located at Pearl Harbor and nearby military facilities. This attack came without warning and without a declaration of war. Over 2,000 Americans were killed, and many others suffered grievous injuries. A major portion of the United States Pacific Fleet was decimated, leaving many other Americans in the Pacific exposed to attack and capture. Japan's action on this date ushered in our involvement in World War II. Thereafter, for over four years, the United States was engaged in a great global conflict, marked by the unimaginable suffering of untold millions, both military and civilian. The lives of an entire generation were disrupted, and many still bear scars from this conflict. Over 50 years have elapsed since the attack on Pearl Harbor. Those Americans who were then old enough to remember that day are aging, and many are no longer with us. Someday, that generation will be gone, and no one will be available to bear witness to that pivotal event in our history. As a people, we can not afford to forget what happened. Lessons were learned which remain relevant to this day. Suffering was endured for our freedom, and this cries out for recognition. Blood was spilled by a heroic generation so that we, today, can enjoy freedom. It would be a sacrilege to fail to acknowledge our continuing debt to the who gave so much to us. Accordingly, it is proper-- indeed, necessary-- to continually remind ourselves, and future generations, of the events of December 7, 1941. HCR 5 does just that, by designating that day as Pearl Harbor Day and calling on the Governor to issue and appropriate proclamation. Your support is appreciated. Number 093 REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER stated that resolutions like this were good ones. He also wanted to know what it would take so we wouldn't have to bring this before committee every year because the number of veterans in the House and Senate was dwindling, and he was afraid there wouldn't be enough push to get it through in following years. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT thought it would take a bill. REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER suggested introducing one. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT stated that if it was the will of the committee, that would be fine. He commented that he had a constituent notify the office that would've liked to have seen this, a statute calling upon the state to recognize it as a state holiday. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAVIES also felt it would be a fine idea to make this an annual event but felt it would take another step to make it a state holiday because of the financial implications, and the fact that there's other events in history that would warrant making them holidays also. Number 132 CO-CHAIRMAN KOTT agreed with Representative Davies. To make this a bill, we would have to re-draft this and bring it back before the committee. At this point we would have to table this resolution. Number 147 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER pointed out that the committee could keep this going as a committee sponsored resolution. He then moved to pass HCR 5 out of committee, with unanimous consent. He followed that up with a motion that they sponsor a bill to make this a yearly event. CO-CHAIRMAN KOTT addressed the first motion to move HCR 5 out of the Military and Veteran Affairs Committee. He asked, "is there unanimous consent?" Hearing no objection, it was so moved. The second motion was to tie this measure into statute and make it an annual event. There was no objection to this motion, Representative Kott indicated that a bill would be requested and brought to committee.