NEWPORT NEWS — The Virginia War Museum is hosting its annual Pearl Harbor ceremony Friday.
“You never know how many people are gonna come until it actually happens,” Chris Garcia, the museum’s education coordinator said.
The ceremony starts at 4 p.m., the local time the Pearl Harbor attack ended, according to the museum’s news release.
This is the only ceremony in Hampton Roads open to the general public, Garcia said.
Last year, about 35 people attended the ceremony, and for the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor some 200 people showed up.
Garcia said a mixture of people attend, including kids, veterans, members from the American Legion Braxton-Perkins Post 25 and occasionally, local military and City Council members.
He expects about 35 -50 people this year.
Attendees watch an untitled documentary film about Virginia’s Pearl Harbor survivors, produced by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation in Richmond, and the ceremony concludes with a wreath laying ceremony at the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Monument near the museum’s grounds.
There is usually a guest speaker but since the ceremony falls on a Friday during rush hour, the museum was unable to have one.
When asked if there were any challenges teaching kids or museum goers about Pearl Harbor, Garcia said it’s one of the easier topics to talk about since most people usually already know something about Pearl Harbor.
The 2018 Pearl Harbor Commemoration ceremony is at the Virginia War Museum, 9285 Warwick Blvd.
There are no special discounts to the museum, but after the ceremony attendees can explore the museum until 5 p.m. For more information, visit the museum’s website or call 757-247-8523.
