By Chris Spangler
The 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was remembered during a Saturday program at the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson.
Keynoting the event was Jennifer Van Haaften of Fort Atkinson, who serves as assistant director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
She spoke about the origins of World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as shared some of the oral histories of soldiers from Jefferson County and Wisconsin.
That was followed by a commemoration ceremony recognizing Jefferson County World War II service personnel. Presenting it were Deb Brown, director of the Johnson Creek Historical Society; Olive Gross, president of the Bark River Woods Historical Society in Hebron, and Robin Untz, president of the Lake Mills-Aztalan Historical Society.
It included a recording of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to a Joint Session of Congress on Dec. 8, 1941, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During this address, Roosevelt asked for a declaration of war against Japan.
The event also kicked off a countywide exhibit titled: “Before the Storm: Jefferson County Prior to World War II.” It will remain through the end of the year.
The historical societies and museums of Jefferson County created a shared exhibit that explores what life was like in Jefferson County prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The exhibit is open to the public during the museum’s open hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The participating historical societies and museums are: Bark River Woods Historical Society, Concord Historical Society, Hoard Historical Museum and Fort Atkinson Historical Society, Jefferson Historical Society, Johnson Creek Historical Society, Lake Mills/Aztalan Historical Society and Palmyra Historical Society.
Each society contributed artifacts, images and creativity to the exhibit on the attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, the empire of Japan bombed the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, located on the island of Oahu. The bombing lasted for more than 90 minutes. In total, more than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded.
Of the more than 100 Navy ships based at Pearl Harbor, 21 ships were damaged. Eventually all but three were repaired and returned to service. The attack on Pearl Harbor forced the United States into the burgeoning war between Japan and other Pacific countries, plus into the European conflict with Germany and Italy.
During the next four years, the historical societies and museums of Jefferson County will be creating a series of events to commemorate World War II and all those who were involved, both in the military and as part of the homefront.
Photos from the event follow.
Four photos above: Attendees view a Pearl Harbor display at the Hoard Historical Museum Saturday. The event marked the debut of a countywide exhibit titled: “Before the Storm: Jefferson County Prior to WWII.” It will remain available for viewing through the end of the year.
This slide, documenting the thoughts of Earl Thayer of Palmyra and Fort Atkinson, was among several presented by Assistant Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison and keynote speaker Jennifer Van Haaften, who is a resident Fort Atkinson.
Jennifer Van Haaften of Fort Atkinson and the assistant director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison, at top, presents a program about Japan’s Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. The presentation was made Saturday at the Hoard Historical Museum. Haaften, pictured above at center, visits with event-goers after the presentation.
Deb Brown, director of the Johnson Creek Historical Society, from left; Olive Gross, president of the Bark River Woods Historical Society in Hebron, and Robin Untz, president of the Lake Mills-Aztalan Historical Society participate in a commemoration ceremony recognizing Jefferson County World War II service personnel.
Veterans attending a Pearl Harbor program Saturday at the Hoard Historical Museum stand to be acknowledged.
Fort Atkinson residents Marie Nelson, from left, Karen and Benjamin Gomez, and Jim Nelson visit following Saturday’s Pearl Harbor anniversary program at the Hoard Historical Museum.
Photos by Chris Spangler
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