ORLANDO, Fla. — Across the country, including in Central Florida, people are coming together to remember Pearl Harbor.
Eighty-three years ago, Japan attacked the U.S. Naval Base, marking the entry of the United States into World War II.
A Remembrance Day ceremony will be taking place at the Doris “Dorie” Miller, Memorial Post 331, American Legion in Orlando on Dec. 7.
This is the sixth year a remembrance ceremony has taken place.
The community is invited to honor those who’ve lost their lives during Pearl Harbor and World War II.
Someone that some veterans at Memorial Post 331 would like to talk about is Doris “Dorie” Miller.
They credit Miller’s bravery that day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
They said after several gunners were lost, Miller answered the call of duty by taking command of a gun and knocking out several Japanese attack planes.
His story of bravery resonates with them.
“We believe African American history is American history. Americans really need to know the facts," Larry Colleton, post commander for the Doris “Dorie” Miller Memorial Post 331, said. "The fact is that African American men could not be anything in the U.S. Navy other than stewards. That’s preparing food and serving it and cleaning. So, here’s a man who had no formal training as a combatant and he was able to step up to the plate.”
For his actions, Miller was the first African American to be awarded the Navy Cross.
Nearly two years after Pearl Harbor, he was killed in action when his ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the battle of Makin in the Gilbert Islands in 1943.
The U.S. Navy has also named an aircraft after Miller as a result of his heroism on December 7, 1941.
This remembrance ceremony kicks off at 11 a.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.