U.S. Pacific Command Commander Adm. Harry Harris says those who served during the attack on Pearl Harbor never failed to stand for the national anthem.
His remarks Wednesday at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack generated a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd, with people whistling and hooting.
Thousands gathered for the event, held on a pier across the harbor from where the USS Arizona sank during the 1941 attack.
“You can bet that the men and women we honor today — and those who died that fateful morning 75 years ago — never took a knee and never failed to stand whenever they heard our national anthem being played,” Harris said to nearly a minute of clapping, whistles and whoops.
“Hearing the words ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave’ means something special for every American, every day,” Harris added. “But today — on December 7th — it takes on extraordinary significance, as we’re joined here in this hallowed place by World War II veterans and survivors of the attacks on military bases all across Oahu, including right here at Pearl Harbor.”
In recent months, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others have knelt through the national anthem to protest police brutality and the treatment of minorities, drawing criticism and acclaim alike. Athletes from many sports, from youth to professional levels, have followed Kaepernick’s lead.
Reached later, Pacific Command spokesman Robert Shuford said Harris’ comments “speak for themselves.”
Harris has been the top U.S. military officer in the Asia-Pacific region since he took over the command in May 2015. He had moved over from the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which he led since October 2013.
In February, Harris described China’s militarization of the South China Sea as being “as certain as a traffic jam” in Washington, D.C. At the time he told senators that to believe otherwise, “you have to believe in a flat Earth.” U.S. and Chinese diplomats generally cushion their barbs over who is to blame for militarizing the region.
More than 300,000 troops are assigned to the Pacific Command’s area, which stretches from the U.S. West Coast to the western border of India.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Great job Admiral
I only wish more people knew the entire FOUR VERSES and the story behind them.
NONE of this is being taught in our “PUBLIC” schools !
Admirable Admiral Harris!
So proud of you Adm. Harry Harris!!!!! Our service personal and true Americans all over the world should be proud as well.. We need to take a census of who loves America and the flag that means so much to true Americans………… These atheist will be thrown into the lake of fire when our Lord returns and the “Great White Throne Judgement” is held by God Himself.. He is watching all creation and I just wonder how much He will allow before sending Christ to take us home to Heaven.. These unbelievers in this nation have a big surprise coming…. We Christians have allowed them to have their way far to long. I pray Donald Trump becoming our president will appoint judges that are believer in God and all His creation and just maybe some of this far left agenda will be stopped.. We need to keep him in our prayers…
These ignorant anthem protestors have no idea how their lives have been saved by heroes such as those who died at Pearl Harbor. Instead of taking steps to change the situations they are upset about, they insult the rest of us by their pathetic actions. Their stupid protests have no effect on us, except to turn us away from those sports teams who let their members behave in their insolent manner. And the players themselves look nothing but pitiful to us!!!
Exactly. I have cancelled my NBA & NFL TV packages and quit watching both. Amazing how much more time I have these days for worthwhile things.
United States use to put these people on a boat and ship them off as dissidents and disloyal to out country. We did not tolerate this Domestic Aggression and in fact it is part of the Oath. ” Defend against all Foreign and Domestic Aggression “. Especially if they burn our Flag and the College excepts this course as an acceptable behavior. There are places in China that have a great opportunity to work for nothing and will except them in . Of course it would be with no pay .
Admiral Harris was right on target. On the Red Chinese build-up in the South China Sea, the OBOZO administration forced out one of the best naval intelligence officers America had to satisfy Peking.
Is his title the replacement name for CINCPAC (Commander In Chief Pacific)?
Adm. Harris: You and your sailors and officers are the best ! Anchors Aweigh !!
Very ignorant people in very large numbers are forever the ultimate hazard. A test of fundamental knowledge should be required prior to the issuance of a right to protest. . How old are these people? Who paid them? Do they understand why they enjoy American life today?
Kick their traitorous butts out of the country and not worry about where they end up
It’s good to read of an officer who loves this nation and is willing to say so.
Impeachment in year 2009 would of prevented SOME OF the anti-American/anti-Christian CULTURE THAT HAS DIVIDED OUR UNITED STATES TODAY AND ILL EFFECTED THESE MILLION DOLLAR ATHLETES!!!!!!PRESDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND OBLIGATION TO REVERSE ALL ANTI AMERICAN ORDERS/REGULATIONS AND ILLEGAL VIOLATIONS OF OUR LAWS. WE ARE A CHRISTIAN JUDEO NATION WITH A DOCUMENT THAT HAS LASTED 200+ YEARS AND WITH THE RIGHT PRESIDENT, WILL LAST ANOTHER 200+ YEARS. GOD SAVE OUR USA AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!
Since freedom of speech is an American Right, why was my comment shut down and deleted by you bird brains?
Since freedom of speech is an American Right
You are posting on a private site which allows for monitoring and deleting of offensive comments –
Admiral Harris should be commended for his statement. Otherwise l cannot post what I really think of all these idiots that are protesting and if we had Mayor’s and others with any backbone they could stop this protesting. They are as much to blame as the protesters. In
I can’t wait till Trump gets involved with our armed services people. Our aircraft carriers and just our military that has been neglected.
Protesters that are payed millions of dollars to play a game, should take their talents elsewhere and see if they get the same size paycheck when they disrespect another nations flag. Oh , by the way if you need a ride to the airport, for a million I’ll see that you get there.
Can’t wait for the tackle on Colin Kaepernick, that paralyzes him from the neck down. Then we will see what he thinks of America when he can’t even wipe his own ass.. Can’t happen soon enough.
I agree with you. Lots more names are being added daily.
The owners of these teams that won’t stand for our anthem song need to speak up and tell these fools that if they won’t stand for the anthem for them to go to the locker room and sit out the game until they are ready to show respect for this country. But……. they won’t do this because of the money involved. But if the people would stop going to these games, I guarantee you, the owners would make them stand up. But again………people will continue to go anyway regardless. So……these idiots will continue to sit because they know people will still go to their games.