MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Members of the West Virginia University community joined together outside of Oglebay Hall on a cold Friday morning to pay their respects to those who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The WVU Center for Veteran, Military, and Family Programs, along with veterans who served in foreign conflicts spanning the course of half a century, were on hand by the mast of the USS West Virginia, where the bell of the ship was rung as part of the annual ceremony.
Retired U.S. Army Major George Davis was among those who spoke during the ceremony, where he expressed gratitude to be able to honor those who lost their lives during the attack.
"It means a lot to me, I love this school, it's always held a special place in my heart," said Davis after the ceremony. "So to remember not only the school, but the fact that they are patriotic enough to hold a ceremony like this (is special)."
A flag placement and a ceremonial 21-gun salute were conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 548 and Post 9916 after Davis made opening remarks, followed by a playing of taps. Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution laid three wreaths down by the mast of the USS West Virginia, which was followed by the ringing of the ship bell by members of the WVU ROTC. They were joined by about a dozen of their fellow cadets who were in formation throughout the ceremony.
"It's an honor to be able to come in and represent the program and the country as a whole in ringing the Pearl Harbor bell today," said Senior WVU ROTC cadet Conner McClellan.
The ceremony is hosted by WVU to remember the impact felt by West Virginians during the Pearl Harbor attack.
Along with the 27 servicemen who were from the Mountain State who died on Dec. 7, 1941, the USS West Virginia also lost 107 sailors after the torpedo hits combined with two bombs dropped by the Japanese, which sustained significant damage that resulted in a sinking. The ship eventually was repaired and was brought back into service in 1944, with the mast and the bell eventually being donated to WVU. Understanding the history behind the landmarks and the Pearl Harbor attack itself, the ceremony reflected the patriotism that some people felt for generations.
"It's just representative of continuing the American spirit and being patriotic even years late," said McClellan, who chose to start his pathway to service after seeing his dad take part in multiple tours in Iraq. "It's just continuing that tradition, and it's an honor."
For Davis, the other veterans in attendance along with the future enlisted servicemen and the WVU community, the ceremony also reflected on those that were lost in not only the Pearl Harbor attack but in other foreign conflicts. This includes the over 1 million lives that were lost in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War and the War on Terror.
"The battleship West Virginia represented West Virginia well, it participated in major operations of all kinds in support of allied ground troops, both Army and Marine Corps. Just remember not only them, but in all of the U.S. service members who lost their lives," he said.