Pearl Harbor Survivor Clarence Davis has carried the flag of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association into the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery at the annual Veterans Day program for the last 25 years. He was there on November 11th lined up with the flags of 40 other Veterans organizations waiting for Vice President Biden to take the stage and begin the 2010 program. He was paired with his 63-year-old son Michael carrying the U.S. Flag at his side. Clarence was the oldest flag bearer.

“At 87,” the Navy veteran said, “I’m the youngest member of our Maryland chapter and the only one able to get the flag in and out of the amphitheater.” Davis said he joined the Pearl Harbor Survivors in 1972 and has never missed a chapter meeting. He’s the Association’s Maryland State chairman.

In 1995, there were 300 members in the Maryland Chapter; today there are 42, and as Clarence noted, he is the youngest. Son Michael is a member and state officer in the Sons & Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors and helps out now on Veterans Day and in keeping the history, heritage, and eye witness accounts of December 7, 1941, alive.

Clarence Davis puts much time and energy into Pearl Harbor Survivor Association activities. “I always felt the attack was something people should remember,” he said. “It happened so fast and so many died. I always said it could happen again at any time and any place, even in America–and it did!”

Pearl Harbor survivor carrying flagThis December 7, 2010, on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Clarence, his son, and a small band of Pearl Harbor Survivors and supporters will gather at the Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial in Annapolis, Md., on the grounds of the State’s World War II Memorial to tell their story and keep the memory of that momentous day alive–an event they remember as if it were yesterday and one that shaped the world we know today.

Chris Sheer is a recently retired VA employee and Vietnam-era Veteran.

 

Topics in this story

HistoryHonoring VetsMemorial AffairsPearl HarborVeterans DayWorld War TwoWWII

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10 Comments

  1. Oscar rodrigez December 8, 2010 at 21:32

    i cried when ever i think of that sad moment. i mean when push comes to shove the war was really sad. i personally don’t agree in wars; but that was just sad man, just sad.

  2. Wendy Minniear Masters December 7, 2010 at 19:22

    I remmember December 7th, 1941. I sat upon my father’s shoulders and watched the attack from our street high above the Harbor. My father left as soon as the attack was over to his ship, the USS Phoenix. The Phoenix, a light cruiser, was underway by 10:30 a.m. She served in every major battle of the Pacific.
    She was mothballed in ’46; eventually sold to Argentina and sunk in the Falkand War.

  3. LARRY CATALDO December 7, 2010 at 18:36

    THE SHAME, PRES. ROOSEVELT SAID IN HIS SPEECH THAT DAY “SO HELP US GOD” THAT WAS LEFT OFF OF THE MEMOIRAL IN WASH DC!!!!

  4. BRIAN D. COOK December 7, 2010 at 15:57

    MY WIFE HAS THE REMARKABLE OPPERTUNITY TODAY TO VISIT WITH OUR SON ( SERVING IN HAWAII ) AND WIFE PEARL HARBOR. I TOO AGREE THAT THIS EVENT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AND NEVER FORGOTTEN. I AM PROUD AND HUMBLED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR NATIONS VETERANS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO FOGHT SO BRAVELLY THAT DAY! MAY GOD BLESS OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEN AND WOMAN!!!!!!

  5. SFC Sean Gilman US-Army Retired December 7, 2010 at 15:46

    This is Amazing my hat off you Sir for your dedication. I truly hope we can keep this memory alive for many generations to come the Sacrifice given everyday is and always will be the only thing that keeps us from tyranny and oppression..

  6. Bob Glover December 7, 2010 at 15:34

    And the youth of that generation took up a mighty sword and gave notice of what American tenacity is…They, now known as our “greatest generation”, became the Phoenix; returning from the ashes and avenged those that so valiantly lost all with what became a rallying cry of “Remember Pearl Harbor”…Thank God for “True Americans” one and all

  7. SFC James F. Widener USA Retired December 7, 2010 at 15:31

    I was just five years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed but I do have faint memories of hearing about it on the radio.

    God bless our military past and present.

  8. Major Dan G. Livergood December 7, 2010 at 12:59

    GOD BLESS HE AND HIS SON, AND GOD BLESS ALL OF OUR VETERAN SONS AND DAUGHTERS FOR THEIR UNSELFISH SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING OUR FREEDOMS, ABROAD FROM THOSE WHO WANT TO TAKE THESE PRECIOUS GIFTS AWAY FROM US! “GOD BLESS AMERICA”

  9. Diane Craig December 7, 2010 at 09:32

    What an awesome story! I am privileged and honored to take care of our veterans every day at my job.We are blessed to have the freedoms we share today as Americans due to their extreme sacrifice. God bless our Veterans.God Bless America.

  10. brenda hayes December 6, 2010 at 23:58

    Thanks for such a heartwarming story. He certainly is a Very Young looking 87; wish I had his energy and stamina!!

    Blessings and continued thanks for Mr. Clarence Davis and his family’s service.

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