Gov. Bevin Orders Flags to Half-Staff forNational Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

December 07, 2019  /  Ted Cox

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 7, 2019) - Gov. Matt Bevin has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in observance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

This is in memory and honor of the more than 2,400 Americans who died in the surprise attack on the U.S. Fleet’s Pearl Harbor base in the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Dec. 7, 1941 “a date which will live in infamy” and signed the Declaration of War against Japan the following day, Dec. 8, 78 years ago.

Of the 1,177 sailors and marines who died on the USS Arizona, at least 19 were Kentuckians:

  • Fireman First Class Purdy Renaker Bedford

  • Fireman Third Class Walter Karr Bolling

  • Fire Controlman Third Class Jack C. Buckley

  • Seaman First Class William Milford Cox

  • Gunner’s Mate Second Class Cecil Thomas Crowe

  • Private James Berkley Dawson

  • Coxswain Wand B. Doyle

  • Electrician’s Mate Third Class William Walker Ford

  • Seaman First Class Elmo Howard

  • Ensign Robert Lawrence Leopold

  • Seaman Second Class Leroy Manning

  • Mess Attendant Second Class Tommy Lee Moss

  • Fireman First Class Mervin Eugene Osborne

  • Storekeeper Third Class Edwin Lester Puckett

  • Storekeeper Third Class Clay Cooper Rector

  • Boatswain’s Mate First Class Chester Clay Rose

  • Gunner’s Mate Third Class Lambert Ray Tapp

  • Fireman First Class Lenvil Leo Watkins

  • Gunner’s Mate Third Class William Byron Whitt

At one time, more than 100 Pearl Harbor survivors lived in Kentucky. By the attack’s 70th anniversary in 2011, their numbers had dwindled to 18.

All individuals, businesses, organizations, and government agencies are encouraged to join in this tribute.

Flag status information is available at http://governor.ky.gov/flag-status/.