Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day commemorated 

The year 2022 marks the 81st anniversary of the military assault by the then Empire of Japan on the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which propelled our nation into World War II.

Veterans, family and guests gathered on Dec. 7 at V.F.W. Post 1371 in Owego, and in the Delmar Dale Sibley Memorial Hall to honor the memory of Sibley, Tioga County’s first WWII casualty who gave his life at age 23 in action aboard the U.S.S. Arizona, and also four other Tioga County servicemen, and since deceased, who survived the Pearl Harbor attack. 

Jim Raftis, Sr., Korean War veteran and Memorial Day chairman, was the ceremony’s host.

Raftis announced the time of the bombing, 12:55 p.m. EST, and which claimed the lives of 2,403 sailors, soldiers and civilians, and wounded more than 1,000 more. Nearly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes were destroyed or severely damaged.

Steve Palinosky, V.F.W. Honor Guard member, performed a vocal performance of the National Anthem at the opening of the ceremony.

Raftis read a Pearl Harbor memorial prayer and then presented two proclamations, one from the White House, and a second from the Tioga County Legislature. 

The Legislature’s proclamation stated, in part, “Today we pause in commemoration of those who fought and died on Dec. 7, 1941, and we honor their bravery and final sacrifice, and especially Seaman Delmar Dale Sibley of Owego who is still aboard the U.S.S. Arizona. Four from Tioga County survived including Army Air Corps Mechanic Bill Kennedy of Owego, who passed away at age 96 in 2018, along with survivors, now deceased, Marine Machine Gun Crewman Lester Dunham and Army Sergeant Donald Stocks, both of Owego, and Army Sergeant Richard Hopkins of Berkshire,” adding, “We are profoundly grateful for members of our nation’s military and their families.” 

Raftis noted that Seaman Sibley’s portrait, along with several of Sibley’s medals displayed in a shadow box, had been recovered from the flooded room of the V.F.W. in 2011, and this year were used as a backdrop for the ceremony.

The family of Richard “Dick” Hopkins, daughter Jody and son-in-law Bob Tatich, shared insight at the ceremony. Hopkins passed away in 2013.

Dick Hopkins enlisted in the infantry in 1940. An opportunity arose to go to Hawaii in 1941 for, at first, what he thought was an adventure in an exotic environment. 

Bob Tatich remarked, “But little did he know what was coming.”

Tatich shared that Dick had described the Pearl Harbor scene as pandemonium, but even that word didn’t do it justice. Hopkins helped carry and transport victims to triage, and then stayed in Hawaii longer for shore duty. Hopkins went on to Guadalcanal, and where he experienced some of the grimmest encounters of the war. Hopkins, a recipient of several medals, received the Bronze Star for his service at Guadalcanal.

Tatich concluded, “Dick was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association, and was proud to be a V.F.W. member. We are all very proud to be related to Dick.”

Gordon Ichikawa, of Owego, shared the story of his late mother Kiyo, who was detained upwards of four years along with other family members at internment camps during the war. Ichikawa’s father, Tom, a past Owego V.F.W. Commander, enlisted on Dec. 8, 1941.

Ichikawa remarked, “My parents were proud to be Americans, my Dad was a proud veteran, and Mom and her family made the best of a bad situation,” adding, “She never held a grudge against her country.”

Concluding the ceremony, Steve Palinosky performed a bugle rendition of Taps.  

V.F.W. Honor Guard member and Korean War veteran George Carrigan was acknowledged at the end of the ceremony, and in recognition of his 91st birthday.