Remembering Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
Each year, the nation marks Pearl Harbor Day to remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. An additional 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft.
One of the survivors of Pearl Harbor was Charles Sehe, who graduated from Geneva High School and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. On December 7, 1941 he was assigned to the USS Nevada, one of eight battleships stationed at Pearl Harbor. His firsthand account of the events on that fateful day have been preserved through interviews, featured in an online oral history presented by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. You can hear his story here.
On Monday December 4, an estimated 300 people attended Aurora's 54th annual Pearl Harbor Day memorial luncheon and 37th annual Ted Brattin civic youth awards .
The event was held at Lincoln Inn Banquets in Batavia. Co-sponsors were Navy League Aurora Council and Rotary Club of Aurora United.
Keynote speaker was Navy Capt. Craig T. Mattingly, commander of the Naval Service Training Command at Great Lakes naval base.
Special guests were veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict. They were Angelo Di Liberti, Jerry Cisneros, Duane Stevenson, Mike Novak, Richard Miller, Don O'Reilly, Lou Kueltzo and Sherwin Davis.
Outstanding area high school students received Brattin awards. They were Julie Farrell, Aurora Central Catholic High School; Grace Potapenko, Aurora Christian; Jaden Blankenship, Illinois Math and Science Academy; Alexis Magana, Marmion Academy; Jakhai Hudson, Oswego High; Megan Molenhouse, Rosary High; Anna Buchenauer, Waubonsie Valley; and Alondra Limon, East Aurora. 
Chris Olsen, Rotary president, presented awards as Gretchen Timm, Rotary member, read student profiles.
The late Brattin, a former Aurora businessman and U.S. Marine veteran, launched the awards and Aurora Navy League chapter.
Col. (Ret.) Richard Todas of Aurora, Aurora Navy League president, emceed the program. Ricard Miller of Aurora, a Navy veteran, led the pledge of allegiance.
Chief Albert Farmer, Navy (ret.), East Aurora High NJROTC unit, gave the invocation. The Mooseheart NJROTC color guard presented the colors.
West Aurora High Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets Sara Smith and Claire Banks sang the national anthem and Navy hymn.
Aurora Navy League support Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at West Aurora High School and NJROTC units at East Aurora High and Mooseheart Child City and School.
Founded by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Navy League of the U.S. is a civilian organization which support to the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Air Force, their families and youth leadership programs including Naval Sea Cadet Corps, NJROTC and AFJROTC
(article written by Al Benson)
The Kane County Veterans Memorial holds the names of 567 members of the armed forces who died during World War II. The memorial is located at the Kane County Government Center Campus at 719 S. Batavia Avenue – Geneva, IL 60134
A virtual version of the Memorial is available on line at sites.google.com/a/bps101.net/kanewarmemorial. It was created as part of a school project by middle school students in Batavia.
The Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission is instrumental in securing resources and support for the 18,644 veterans in Kane County. Learn more at https://www.countyofkane.org/pages/veterans.aspx
