OWEGO, NY (WENY) -- Eighty-two years ago on December 7th, 1941, the United States was attacked by Japanese military forces. To honor those who witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Owego VFW hosted a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

"The purpose of today's ceremony was to remember December the 7th, [and] to especially remember Seaman First Class Delmar Dale Sibley, Tioga County, and Owego's first World War II casualty," said Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Owego VFW Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Chairman, Jim Raftis.

The families and colleagues of survivors were able to share what their heroes told them about that day. Bob Tatich said his father-in-law, U.S. Army Sergeant Richard Hopkins helped evacuate those who were hurt in the attack.

"Richard entered the army in 1940 [before] World War II [and] found himself stationed with the Army in Hawaii. Like everyone else, [he] was unpleasantly surprised on December 7th by the attack. He helped [evacuate the] wounded [and] those [who were] killed away from the harbor during and after the attack. Later, they were stationed awaiting a supposed invasion, which never happened. He later went on to go with the Army to relieve the Marines at Guadalcanal in '42, and finished the service in '45," said Tatich.

Among those who were honored was First Class Seaman Delmar Dale Sibley. Sibley was on board the USS Arizona when it was bombed, and was the first Tioga County serviceman to die in World War II. Sibley's remains were never recovered.

"Delmar was important to Owego, he worked here, stayed here about five years, enlisted in the Navy, [and] went to Pearl Harbor. [He] was aboard the USS Arizona, took a direct hit, [and] the ship blew in half. Ever since then, Owego and Tioga County never forget [its] veterans," said Raftis.

U.S. Navy veteran Lawrence Lattin recalled the story of his Commanding Officer, Henry Davison. Lattin said Commander Davison was on board the USS Arizona when it sunk. He said Commander Davison saw the bombs hit and tried to help others who were still on the ship.

"One of the bombs exploded near the deck's booth on the quarterdeck. He tried to get over [and] help out others aboard the ship. He ended up having to go off the side of the ship and into the water with the other men. But [by] the time that they tried to get back aboard, at that time the ship had basically broken in two and was sinking," said Lattin.

Lattin said it's important to remember those who died in the Pearl Harbor attack and those who served over the course of history.

"If we forget our history, we forget the men [and women who] served [and] died for our country. As Ronald Reagan said, we're one nation under God, and if we forget that, we'll be one nation gone under," said Lattin.

WENY News would like to thank the brave men and women who served and continue to serve and remember those 2,403 lives lost in the Pearl Harbor attack.