As sunlight brightened a red-, beige- and black-stoned memorial and wind swept flapping flags, veterans of World War II were honored and remembered.
Sunday marked the 67th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, and the Korean War Veterans Association held its fourth annual Pearl Harbor Survivors and World War II Veterans Recognition Day.
The memorial took place at the Kanapaha Veterans Memorial Park off Tower Road.
Michael Gannon, World War II historian and professor emeritus at UF, gave the ceremony's keynote speech about Adm. Husband Kimmel, whom he called the last U.S. Navy victim of Pearl Harbor.
Gannon, an expert in U.S. Naval history and the author of eight books, told the story of Kimmel, who was blamed for not preventing the Japanese attacks and was never fully exonerated of the charges.
Gannon has been researching Kimmel and working on clearing his name for several years.
He said he hopes Vice President-elect Joe Biden will pass the measure through Congress, since the senator had previously pushed for the move.
The UF Air Force ROTC drill team also performed at the memorial, spinning and tossing rifles.
Jim Lynch, Alachua County veterans officer and master of ceremony at the memorial service, said the ceremony was about never letting memories fade and passing on the memories to a younger generation.
"Today is a day to remember," Lynch said during the ceremony.
Phil Newman and his wife, Chick, attended Sunday's memorial but said young people no longer seem to care.
"They want to hear about the Gators," Newman said.
"They don't want to hear about us."
Newman is a part of Decrepit Birdmen of World War II, a group of veterans who go to schools and educate students on the history of the war.
Newman said at the rate World War II veterans are dying - about 1,000 a day - the stories of World War II are disappearing.
"I suppose, one of these days, there won't be anyone left to remember," he said.
