Today, December 7th, is Pearl Harbor Day. I think of the children and their families on that day, caught up in the excitement of Christmas, only to have their lives abruptly changed. Suddenly Santa must have been a far away thought. Could they decorate a tree with the spirit of Christmas? What gave them strength to keep going, one step at a time?
The American flag must have been a powerful symbol of strength. I wonder if children made flags that Christmas. Children in my class often make flags. There is always strength in doing so.
Today I think of those children and their families, seventy-eight years ago.
Jennie
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About Jennie
I have been teaching preschool for over thirty years. This is my passion. I believe that children have a voice, and that is the catalyst to enhance or even change the learning experience. Emergent curriculum opens young minds. It's the little things that happen in the classroom that are most important and exciting. That's what I write about.
I am highlighted in the the new edition of Jim Trelease's bestselling book, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" because of my reading to children. My class has designed quilts that hang as permanent displays at both the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, and the Fisher House at the Boston VA Hospital.
A Teacher's Reflections 
Oh Jennie…how can we do these things to each other?
I so agree with your sentiment. Are the painful lessons of our history all for naught? It doesn’t make sense.
Yes, I know. Yet, there is goodness that comes from tragedy. People come together. Our country was one. We worked together, and differences didn’t matter at all. I wish that feeling, that thinking, would always be there.
I wish that also.
🙂
A sad day indeed. The futility of war. Perhaps this generation will realize there is nothing to be gained by armed conflict.
I certainly hope so.
Darlene, sometimes there really is something to be gained. Many armed conflicts have rid the world of terrible despots. Until there’s a better way to do this, or until
we really do learn lessons
from history, armed conflict seems inevitable, as much as we detest it.
Indeed!
💜💜💜🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
❤️❤️❤️
I think making your stars and stripe is easier than making a Union Jack!
Definitely!
I’m not a great one for flags or nationalism Jennie but I sure do think of the huge tragedy of Pearl Harbour and utter stupidity of war. The world is full of traumatised people. There has to be better ways of living, getting on with each other and running the world.
I hope we wise up before it’s too late.
I hear you, Opher. Big time. And I can’t help but think of the children in times of tragedy. Our country came together in the best of ways, working together as one. We had to. Differences didn’t matter (except if you were Japanese, and that is a tragic story in our country). We had to get along because we needed each other. I wish people could always be that way.
Sadly the memory of Pearl Harbor is slowly drifting away as the sunset falls on the greatest generation. Even the children who were born before December 7th, 1941 are now fading as well. Thanks for keeping the memory alive, Jennie.
It is sad, John. I am only the child of parents of the greatest generation, yet this memory is crystal clear. I feel it should never be forgotten.
By the way, the new movie Midway is excellent. Even Hubby who is a history buff and former Navy flyer loved it.
There were a couple ofliberties taken but for the most part I agree it was excellent.
👍
Lovely tribute, Jennie. That day must never be forgotten.
Best wishes, Pete.
Indeed it should not. Thank you, Pete.
Wonderful post, Jennie. RT.
Thank you, Jacqui.
Jennie, Jennie, Jennie, you are wonderful. The flag emotes so many different feelings, among them is patriotism, a good thing for a proud country. Your photo is precious. Keep up the great work. By the way, my flag is waving extra proudly, today.
That’s so nice, Steve. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 😊
Will we ever learn?
I keep teaching.
Thank you for teaching those beautiful children their history.!
You are welcome, GP. Good thing I corrected my error of 76 years to 78! Maybe someone, somewhere has a photo of a child(ren) making a flag that Christmas of, ‘41. My instinct tells me many probably did. I will keep teaching history.
We all should think of those brave men and women and their children and other loved ones. This day will live on, as it should. Thanks Jennie.
Hear hear!
❤️
I recently read a book about an American ship that was sunk by a Japanese torpedo after Pearl Harbour, Jennie. It taught me a lot about this part of the war which is less familiar to me.
This was not big for Europe, but it was the single event that caused America to finally join the war.
Yes, I know that which made it a major turning point in the war. That I did know. I didn’t know a lot of detail about Pearl Harbour until I saw the film. The book I read featured the USS Indianapolis.
We both love history. I often think of Europe during the war, and there are still many stories I need to explore. You are a great researcher and historian, Robbie.
Thank you, Jennie
You’re welcome, Robbie.
We must not forget the atrocities and the lives that were changed forever. It was a turning point in the war.
You are so right, Norah!
Pearl Harbor has been on my mind and heart lately, especially since we just saw the excellent movie “Midway,” which included the infamous attack, the day that would go down in infamy. It seems like every year it fades a little more from general awareness, which is a shame. Thanks for the reminder. Their sacrifice deserves remembrance.
We recently saw the movie, too. It was excellent! Hubby is a former Navy flyer and a history buff, and he agreed that the movie was well done. You are so right that these days are fading, and remembering Pearl Harbor becomes even more important. Thank you, Cathleen.
I was born in 1941 in Australia Jennie. As a family we never talked about the war but I definitely have memories
I was born in 1950 in America, and people didn’t talk about the war. That was how our parent’s generation lived and coped and moved forward. To them, there was no sense in dwelling on the past or what happened. I remember being in the high school library and seeing the cover of Life Magazine, about the concentration camps. I was shocked and asked my parents how and why this happened. They said they just did not know this was happening, and no one knew. My other memory was our church choir director getting a call out of the blue from the man he rescued from a concentration camp. I wish I had asked questions back then, but people really didn’t want to talk. I’m so glad today is a different story. What are your memories? Thank you, Glenice. Best to you.
Jennie, this is a wonderful commemorative post. I’m sorry I was late. I can just imagine the children carefully making the flags. Hugs on the wing!
Thanks so much, Teagan. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Thank you for the great remembrance, Jennie! Worth to do, it must be horrible these days in the past. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Michael
You’re welcome, Michael. While it was horrible, we coped and moved forward.