BANGOR – Determined to keep alive the story of a tragic and frightening day in United States history, a group of veterans and their families gathered Thursday at noon in downtown Bangor to mark the 59th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Dec. 7, 1941, attack by Japanese warplanes and submarines resulted in about 2,400 military and civilian deaths in Hawaii and launched the country into World War II.

About 75 people attended the somber ceremony on the Kenduskeag Stream overpass, which is located in back of several bank buildings. A light snow fell, greasing the overpass walkway and further whitening the hair of aging veterans at the annual event. World War II veterans, most approaching 80 years of age, were scattered among the crowd. It was easy to tell who they were. Despite the biting cold, they snapped to attention and saluted as the Bangor High School band played the national anthem.

Prominent in the ceremony was Louis R. Mathieson of Owls Head, a Navy veteran and survivor of the warship USS Oklahoma that sank in the Pearl Harbor attack. Between 300 and 400 military men went down with the ship, but Mathieson and his brother, Harry Mathieson, 77, got out in a dramatic manner. They now live close to each other in Owls Head and Louis Mathieson has written a book about the experience.

Bangor City Mayor John Rohman spoke at the ceremony and thanked the veterans for their service. A Vietnam veteran, Rohman said he completed his tour of duty “just about 30 years ago today.” His father was a career Navy man, Rohman said.

Keynote speaker Mike Farrell, past state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, urged those attending to keep the memory of Pearl Harbor alive because the event contains a significant message for future generations.

Farrell spoke of the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. The warship was one of dozens sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack and 1,200 seamen are entombed in its underwater hull.

The USS Arizona’s fate “is a reminder to us that freedom is not free and that peace is not cheap,” said Farrell.

“We must make sure we stay strong, and always are on the alert so we never get caught off guard again.” He urged the crowd to contact elected officials and tell them “we will not stand for a weak America.”

He said the country “owes it to our youngsters [to keep Pearl Harbor’s story alive] because they will be the ones to fight if this happens again.”

Mathieson and Navy veteran John Garzarelli of Orland together threw a wreath into the Kenduskeag Stream to honor all survivors and all those killed at Pearl Harbor. The Bangor High School R.O.T.C. firing squad fired a three-round volley in honor of the Pearl Harbor dead and Hal Wheeler of the Bangor Band played “Taps.” The event was organized by Paul S. Colburn of Bangor, Pearl Harbor day chairman for local VFW Post 1761.

The Rev. Robert Carlson gave an invocation in which he asked God and those attending to “remember those who have gone, remember those who have survived” and to forever “recall those willing to shed their blood for freedom.”

Raymond Lupo, past state VFW commander, read a list of known survivors in the area, according to Pine Tree Chapter No. 1 of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. They are: Mike Iverson and John Winkin, both of Bangor; Donald Forbes, Old Town; Richard Gill, Milford; Frank Webber Sr., Newport; Charles White, East Holden; Harris McLean, Sullivan; Mike Tiberio and Gene Shute, Belfast; Arthur Sanderson, Unity; Roger Moran, Thorndike; Joseph E. Biron, Bar Harbor; Bob Manchester, Stockton Springs; Paul Richardson, Eastport; Kenneth Sargent, Ellsworth; Joe Adje, Canaan; Harry Taggart, Limestone; Walter Wisniswelski, Morrill; and Louis Mathieson and Harry Mathieson, Owls Head.

Noticeable for their absence were representatives from U.S. Rep. John Baldacci’s office and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ office who were scheduled to attend. Judy Cuddy of Collins’ Bangor office later said a meeting had run over schedule at Eastern Fine Paper in Brewer and that other unpredictable events had occurred in the office and had unfortunately prevented someone from attending. Chris Mann of Baldacci’s Bangor office said staff had been prepared but had gone to the wrong location on Valley Avenue for the ceremony and had “waited for about 20 minutes” before determining no event would take place there. They reached the correct location in downtown Bangor shortly after the ceremony had concluded.

Later in the day, Cuddy and Mann went to the VFW Chapter 1761 post home on outer Hammond Street in hopes of showing their respects by attending a fish chowder luncheon that took place after the ceremony. The luncheon had ended before they arrived.