SAINT CLAIR - It was a day of remembrance Saturday at Admiral Boone Park.
Saint Clair American Legion Post 719, Saint Clair Color Guard and Saint Clair Welfare Council and Veterans of Vietnam War Inc. Post 29 gathered at the park on South Third Street to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor exactly 72 years ago.
"This solemn ceremony is a reminder that freedom isn't free," William F. Bowler, commander of the legion, said Saturday afternoon at the park.
There were 15 individuals from Saint Clair serving at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. Bowler read each name: Vincent Seminavage, Stephen Hebor, Anothony Achenbach, Jacob Androsko, Private First Class Joseph D. Botto, Private Herman Chattin, Private Joseph Davis, Alex Hatala, Anthony Krizan, Vincent Porter, John Semon, Private Metro Stednitz, Private Stanley T. Wabby, Private Edward S. Yastrab and Paul Zacker.
"Obviously, we do not want to forget the sacrifices made by the men and women everywhere," Bowler said.
Bowler said Ted Nazar, Middleport, is the last known survivor of the attack from Schuylkill County. Nazar, who turns 91 on Christmas Eve, was there to salute the flag Saturday.
"I was only a kid at that time," Nazar said of the Pearl Harbor attack. "I was not even 19 yet."
Nazar served in the Army and was stationed at Fort Schafter in Honolulu, Hawaii. He said he left high school two years early and then entered the service. He said people still thank him for his service.
Nazar said has visited Fort Schafter twice since his time in the Army.
"It's heaven," he said.
Nazar is a member of the American Legion Post 144 in Middleport. He said he used to visit area schools to tell students about his time in the military and said it is important for the local veterans to be active to remind people about the sacrifices made by those in the military.
"I think it is something that should be remembered because people are going to forget," Nazar said. "There is no war we should forget."
Nazar was at the ceremony Saturday with family members, including his daughter, Rosalyn Thorn, Saint Clair.
"My dad is a veteran, and I think it's important for people to remember," she said.
Her husband, Ted Thorn III, said they enjoyed the ceremony Saturday.
"It's always nice to see people offer their time to do that," he said.