By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Few survivors are left from the Pearl Harbor attacks as we approach the 75th anniversary, but a groups of sons and daughters are still going strong.
Lynn Shindle of rural Downs chairs the Illinois chapter of Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor survivors. He said his father Charles survived the attack at nearby Hickman Air base but didn’t talk much about it until he followed in his father’s footsteps in serving their country.
“I know what it was like when I went to Vietnam as a scared 19-year-old kid. I imagine what those kids went through when they were there at Pearl Harbor,” Shindel said.
Shindle has proclamations from Gov. Bruce Rauner, Bloomington and Normal that he will present during a remembrance at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m.
Similar events are planned at the water rescue station in Peru on Saturday and Cutright Park in Chillicothe on Sunday. The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs will host an observance on Lake Springfield on Dec. 7.
Shindel explained the lessons learned that fateful day are still true today.
“My dad for years told me America was not alert,” Shindel said. “That’s the motto of the Pearl Harbod survivors. Keep America alert.”
He said the U.S. still doesn’t do enough to prepare for attacks and to give the military the support it needs, especially when they come off the battlefield.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
