On December 7, 2024, the 83rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval Fleet at Pearl Harbor, a ceremony was held at the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport remembering all who served and those who perished at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, ‘A date which will live in infamy’.
The ‘’Dropping of the Roses’’ event featured a vintage World War II AT-6D Texan, which took off at 12:30 p.m. from Hangar 3 at the Museum and flew to the Statue of Liberty to drop off 83 American Beauty Roses (including one extra white rose for 9/11) at the exact time in New York to commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Preceding the ‘Dropping of the Roses’, the public observed a solemn ceremony in remembrance of Pearl Harbor, including the honoring of WWII veterans, plus a Color Guard from the Navy Reserves and veterans’ organizations.
During the observation, a Chaplain blessed the roses as Taps was played, and the roses were presented to the pilot of the AT-6 before its departure from the American Airpower Museum’s ramp.
