KING, WI (WTAQ) - It’s Pearl Harbor Day – and Wisconsin’s official observance will take place Friday afternoon at the state veterans’ nursing home at King in Waupaca County.
Governor Scott Walker will be on hand, as the state commemorates the 71st anniversary of the surprise attack in Hawaii by the Japanese which started World War II.
Former Marine Clyde Stephenson of Appleton will be the main speaker. He was assigned to guard beaches in Oahu from a possible invasion by land – and he ended up firing at Japanese planes.
The state Veterans Affairs Department expects about 200 people to attend, including a couple of the half-dozen Pearl Harbor veterans who live at the veterans’ home.
The attack killed 2,400 service personnel and injured about 1,000 others. 21 vessels were damaged or sunk.