Pearl Harbor ceremony in Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG (TEXAS) - Hundreds of veterans and community members gathered in the Memorial Courtyard of the National Museum of the Pacific War this afternoon to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor survivor Vernon Kelly, 88, and his wife of 44 years Sue, drove to the museum from Dallas.

"The bomb knocked me unconscious," recalled Kelly, who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's Disease.  "When I woke up, I didn't know if I was alive or dead."

Kelly was only 19-years-old at the time and was on board the USS Honolulu. A yeoman, Kelly got locked in the light cruiser's magazine during the Japanese air strike..  He said the lights went out and tools were scattered all over the room.

"Oh I was scared," Kelly said.

Kelly's wife told KXAN despite her husband losing his short-term memory, he still remembers December 7, 1941, vividly.

"He may not remember what he ate for breakfast, but he remembers December 7, 1941," Sue said.

He was one of four Pearl Harbor survivors to attend this afternoon's remembrance ceremony.

Following the ceremony that included music by the Highland Lakes Men's Chorus, bagpipe players and a rifle salute, many in attendance posed for pictures with the survivors or came up to congratulate them.

Sue said while she hopes her husband will be able to hold on to his war memories, medical science is telling her different.

"For me, he is a war hero. I am his caretaker and I will be here for him," Sue said while choking back tears.  "He doesn't think he is a hero, but where would our country be without these men?"