PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL SERVICE SET

Members of the Cape Girardeau chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will remember the historic "Day of Infamy" during a memorial service, Dec. 7, on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Cape Girardeau. The public is invited to attend.

The memorial service will begin at 11:30 a.m., near the Broadway flood gate.

After the playing of the Navy hymn, Lt. Commander Donald R. Taylor, commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Center in Cape Girardeau, will deliver a brief message.

Following his remarks, Taylor will read the names of Pearl Harbor survivors, living and deceased, who live in this area, as a ship's bell is rung for each name read.

After a minute of silent meditation, a wreath of remembrance will be dropped into the river at 11:56 a.m., by Leonard Webb and George Slavens. Slavens is past national president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Webb is the past Missouri state chairman.

The playing of taps, the benediction, and retiring of the colors will conclude the 35-minute ceremony.

A total of 2,403 American servicemen were killed during the surprise attack by the Japanese navy on U.S. naval and army military installations at Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks and Hickham Field. Another 1,178 were wounded. Some of the wounded later died from their injuries.

The attack occurred shortly before 7 a.m., (Hawaiian time) on Dec. 7, 1941, and led to the entry of the United States into World War II against the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan.

One of those killed during the attack was Kenneth Payne of Illmo, who had enlisted in the Navy in 1938 and was serving aboard the battleship USS California.