Fairview Tree Lighting Highlights
The Fairview Tree Lighting thrilled and entertained community members and visitors alike. From Santa to area choirs filling City Hall with music, the event brought in happy holiday folk glad to have a nice evening to visit and enjoy goodies and hot cocoa. The Foundation staffed a table and talked to many area citizens looking forward to big things for Ranger in 2012. The kids were most impressed with the Ranger Sailor Teddy Bear. From the secret Ranger Sailor Bear camera to catching the last holiday wagon ride of the night from Horsepower Carriages and Wagons of Gaston, Oregon, we tried to capture bits and pieces of this fun evening. Once again another great event put on by the City of Fairview. We appreciate their continuing support of the USS Ranger Foundation. Happy Holidays!
Remembrance: 70th Anniversary Of The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor
One of Ranger’s missions when she gets to Fairview is to act as a Museum and Memorial to all who have served. This Dec. 7 marks the 7oth anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. On this solemn occasion the Foundation takes time to remember those who fought and died on this day of tragedy for our nation. Education about these events is a mission Ranger will embrace to ensure the legacy of those who have sacrificed so much are not forgotten.
USS Arizona Memorial Photo Credit mysteriousuniverse.org
To honor their service and sacrifices we wanted to share some Pearl Harbor information most citizens may not know. These men, women and children learned the devastating impacts of war on an unsuspecting Sunday in Oahu. A total of 49 civilians were killed in the attack, ranging in age from 3 months old to 66 years. A total of 35 additional civilians were wounded.
Military losses totaled 2,390 personnel. By service they included 1,999 Navy sailors, 109 Marines, and 233 Army and Army Air Corps soldiers and flyers who were killed in action. More than 710 sailors, 60 Marines and 364 Army soldiers and Army Air Forces staff were wounded.
A total of 12 ships were sunk and beached and an additional nine were damaged. A total of 164 aircraft were destroyed and 159 were damaged. Numbers cannot relate the human cost that day. Families in Hawaii and back on the mainland were affected by the attack.
There were 37 sets of brothers assigned to the USS Arizona on that day. At the end of the battle, 62 of those brothers died out of the 77 serving on the Arizona. OF those men, 23 sets of brothers were killed in action. Two families had a set of three brothers serving aboard the USS Arizona; only one brother survived out of each trio.
War knows no boundaries and that included a father and son both serving on the USS Arizona who died that day; Thomas Augusta Free and his son William Thomas Free. The USS Arizona was removed from the official register of U.S. Navy ships after the attack. On March 7, 1950, she was “re-commissioned” with a flagpole erected on the ship. All Navy ships render her honors when they pass. The USS Ranger crew rendered those honors on the ship’s last voyage home when she docked at Pearl Harbor in 1993.
The National Park Service is responsible to maintain the USS Arizona. The Memorial is part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument established by Presidential Proclamation. The national monument focuses on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor through to the Peace Treaty in Tokyo Bay—with the emphasis on the historical events of World War II in the Pacific Theater and its impacts on the mainland.
To watch videos from the National Park Service and learn more about Pearl Harbor history, these links are provided. http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm http://www.youtube.com/user/WWIIValorNPS
Fairview Tree Lighting Kicks Off Holiday Cheer
Fairview 2010 Christmas Tree Lighting
Come visit the Ranger Foundation store table at the 5th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting this Saturday, Dec. 3 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Fairview City Hall. Team Ranger reindeer will be at the event supporting the Fairview elves who make this wonderful tradition possible. Stop by and play with the Ranger Teddy Bears, they make great gifts! Other Foundation items will also be available for sale.
The 5 p.m. tree lighting will include free hot chocolate for kids and treats to buy for the adults from Bella Café, a Ranger Foundation supporter. A popular attraction returning this year is the horse drawn wagon rides. There will be caroling, crafts and of course Santa will be making an appearance to get those important gift wish lists from the kids. The event is free and all are welcome.
