Skip to content

Seaside Stories

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day in Seaside

December 8, 2010 | by Shanda Bonn

Seaside has many treasures “hidden” before our very eyes, ones we may take for granted because we don’t fully grasp their importance.  One such gem is the First Avenue Bridge, also known as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, with three memorial plaques I had failed to notice until today.

Seaside’s bridge is one of only a handful of such memorials and is certainly apt for the area, given the Oregon Coast’s unhappy distinction of being one of the few places on the US Mainland to be attacked following Pearl Harbor. A Japanese submarine shelled Fort Stevens in April of 1942 and a Japanese plane bombed the southern coast in September of the same year. Thankfully, damage was minimal and a feared full-scale invasion never materialized.

This morning I attended the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Seaside Convention Center. In an effort to establish countywide recognition of this infamous day, several groups came together to mark the occasion. Under the leadership of Seaside Resident and Pearl Harbor survivor, Bill Thomas, with the cooperation of the City of Seaside, the American Legion coordinated the event and was joined by members of the Oregon National Guard, US Coast Guard, VFW and several other active and retired military men and women. Also on hand were Representative Deborah Boone and a representative from Senator Jeff Merkley’s office. The rest of us civilians were there to pay tribute to family and friends who have served our nation whether at Pearl Harbor or elsewhere during World War II or even in other conflicts including Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Remembrance Day Ceremony opened with Thomas announcing this would be his last year coordinating the event and he was given a rousing hand for his efforts over the years to ensure that the events of December 7, 1941 not be forgotten.

Guest speaker Retired Admiral Ed Nelson of the US Coast Guard outlined the events that led up to the attack helping me to better comprehend the significance of that day. I also appreciated his childhood recollections of starting each school day with a patriotic song, not, he said, to glorify war but to remember and show respect. Why remember? “Because sacrifice without remembrance is meaningless.”

While we listened to comments by Admiral Nelson and other guests, a slideshow played in the background showing pictures of Bill Thomas’ trip back to Pearl Harbor last December. Eventually, we made our way to the bridge for the presentation of the wreath. Thomas tossed a fresh floral wreath into the river below as a US Coast Guard helicopter flew overhead. The ceremony concluded with a Three Bell Salute and the playing of Taps. It was solemn but not sad. The crowd dispersed with hugs and handshakes, shoulders erect and heads held high, a mixture of pride and humility.

After the ceremony, I spoke with Seaside Mayor Don Larson, a retired Army Reservist. He expressed regret that Pearl Harbor was buried on page 3 of one of the more prominent newspapers and eagerly voiced his desire that the heroes of Pearl Harbor be remembered, thus the City’s Proclamation that December 7th is officially Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Thank you, Bill Thomas, and all of the participants, for being such an important part of the treasure of the North Coast.

Leave a Reply

and so much more!

Playland: Amusements in the 1930s

Recognize this classic Seaside landmark? For nearly 70 years, countless kids and adults have come to the Oregon Coast to get behin...

Pokémon Go: All You Need To Know in Seaside

Pokémon is a cultural phenomenon around the world. With adorable creatures, battle mechanics, an opportunity for healthy explorat...

Seaside Holiday Spirit

Seaside holiday spirit is more than evident around town beginning in early November. Ushered in by lights and decorations going up...

All About Independence Day 2020 in Seaside

Let’s be clear: July 4th is going to look a little different in Seaside this year. While many of your favorite events had to...

Chowder for Dooger’s Next Generation: Carnegie Wiese

Doug Wiese and his son Carnegie know a great bowl of clam chowder. It’s the signature dish at their family-run restaurant, Dooge...

Five Great Burgers in Seaside

Sam’s Seaside Cafe A well-executed burger shaped and grilled to perfection, layered with the proper ratios of ingredients, i...

Support Seaside Shops Online

We in Seaside appreciate the fact that visitors are honoring Governor Kate Brown’s executive order to stay at home in the wake o...

King Tides Safety and Viewing in Seaside

King Tides on Oregon’s North Coast (photo by Don Frank) ** Story updated for the 2023/2024 King Tides ** King Tides come eac...

Beach Reads for a Vicarious Escape

Chances are, you have more time to read right now than you have had in the past decade. And we all know, a good book can transport...

Postcards from the Past

Ancient postcards from Seaside's distant past

Discover the Beach Less Traveled in North Seaside

If your idea of the perfect beach getaway includes stretches of empty sand, hunting for sand dollars to the sounds of waves crashi...

A Seagull’s View

Aerial shot of Seaside Oregon from the 1920s

SOLV Beach Clean Up

When I look at our beaches I don’t see garbage. I see a breathtaking coastline, and I think how lucky we are to have such pristine beauty right in our own backyard. I believe most beachgoers, both locals and tourists, are conscientious about disposing their refuse properly after a day playing on the beach. So why do we have the SOLV beach cleanup twice a year?

Grant’s Getaways: Paddling the Neawanna in Seaside

If our summer heat wave is getting the best of you – sapping your energy and leaving you feeling generally uncomfortable, perhap...

What The Oregon Coast Can Teach You From Home

The Oregon Coast is a dynamic, ever-changing place that sparks both imagination and curiosity. While you may not be able to visit ...

The Best Part of Waking Up

Delicious breakfast dining at favorite Seaside local hot spots.

Summer’s Great, but There’s Nothing Else like Winter in Seaside

When you imagine a classic beach town, you probably picture something similar to Seaside, Oregon. Our town of 6,700 sits less than...