The Exchange Club of Milledgeville hosted its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the War Veterans Monuments at Georgia College & State University.
Vice President of the Georgia Military Global Online Leadership College Jeff Wells served as master of ceremonies for the event. He spoke about the gratitude needed to be honored by the individuals who had courage and decency to fight for the United States and its ideals in World War II, especially for those who lost their lives on Dec. 7, 1941, in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Following a brief welcome, he opened the ceremony with a moment of prayer to commemorate the day.
“It was one of the worst days in history. It was not just an attack on the United States military and the naval base but it was an attack on the American people, our way of life and the foundation of our republic,” said Wells. “It changed the course of history and made the United States somewhat of a different place.”
Maj. Gen. Robert C. Hughes Jr. was the guest speaker. Hughes, a resident of Macon, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry in 1969 at the United States Army Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning. His military assignments included deputy commanding general (RC), First United States Army, Fort Gillem, commander, 48th Infantry Brigade (mechanized), commander, 78th Troop Command, Deputy Inspector General, and commander, 1/121 TOW Light Antitank Infantry Battalion (TLAT). He also commanded the 2/121st Mechanized Infantry Battalion during Desert Storm.
In addition to this service, Hughes has continued to work and support the U.S. District Court System, serve as a project manager for a national defense reform program, and more.
Beginning his address, Hughes stressed that National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is about the memories of others and what it meant when the Japanese attacked in Hawaii.
“On that faithful Sunday morning over 2,400 Americans lost their lives. More than 1,000 were wounded and a significant amount of my U.S. fleet was destroyed that day,” said Hughes. “It was a day of immense tragedy but also one of a profound sense of resilience and unity in our nation.”
Hughes says that Pearl Harbor Day is a call to survivors to remember, reflect, and learn from the events of its history.
It is a “solemn reminder of the ultimate sacrifice,” Hughes stressed to the crowd. There were 16 medals of honors given on that day and 11 of those individuals received that honor posthumously.
“By remembering Pearl Harbor, we honor all of these courageous individuals. I think the best testament is that there are 11 remaining veterans from that day,” said Hughes. “The second reason we remember Pearl Harbor is because it was not just a military assault but a wake up call for the United States of America. It taught us the importance of being vigilant, preparation and diplomacy. Commemorating this day reminds us of the cost and the need for constant vigilance to maintain peace and security around the world.”
While the day was a “tragedy,” Hughes concluded his speech by stating, “It brought our country together in a parallel way.” This statement highlights how Americans became one from this tragedy and were able to use that unity to eventually prevail by the end of World War II.
“Unity came out of that attack to defend freedom and democracy. Pearl Harbor taught us about being prepared as a nation. It exposed a lot of our vulnerabilities … and what is necessary for survival,” said Hughes. “Yes, the attack was tragic, but it became a pivotal learning moment in history.”
The ceremony concluded with the laying of a wreath beside the World War II monument among the War Veterans Monuments.