A wreath-laying event was recently held in observance of the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The memorial event was attended by members of all branches of the United States military.
Berks Military History Museum president and state Rep. Mark M. Gillen offered remarks. Gillen shared the story of Doris "Dorie" Miller, who was stationed on board the USS West Virginia. He was doing laundry on board the ship at the time of the attack and ended up manning a .50 caliber machine gun, which he had not been trained on. Miller become the first African American awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions that day. Miller was later killed in action in 1943.
Gillen also mentioned that there were dozens of brothers serving on the USS Arizona, and most of them were killed and remain entombed in the sunken ship.
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