PEARL HARBOR: In commemoration of Sunday’s 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we asked readers for related memories we could share in today’s column.

Donald Comes of Smethport remembers the day.

“I was 7 years old when Pearl Harbor happened,” Donald said. He noted the attack fell on a Sunday morning.

Donald, who was then a second-grader at East Smethport School, didn’t hear anything happened until his brother Gordon’s girlfriend, Betty, came to visit.

Even then, “We weren’t sure what it was until we got the 7 o’clock news.” He remembers hearing on the radio President Franklin D. Roosevelt declare war on Japan.

Donald said Roosevelt’s staff helped the polio-suffering president for 3 1/2 hours prepare to declare war.

The events surrounding the Pearl Harbor attack must certainly have made an impression on Donald, as he told us, “I can remember exactly where I sat in second grade.” He recalls the students started to make things for the war effort, and ladies’ groups helped with duties such as making mittens for soldiers. Donald’s brother, William Comes, joined the Army Air Force.

Later, Donald would spend time at Pearl Harbor.

“I graduated in ‘53,” he said, explaining he joined the Navy, serving in Norfolk, Va. Starting in 1956, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor for two years. “The USS Arizona was still at that time spewing up oil from the engines,” he noted. “I worked with people still in service who were there that day, Dec. 7.”

On a lighter note, Gary and Kim Turner of Port Allegany wrote to us with a cute Dec. 7 tale involving their children.

“As for December 7; when our son was in elementary school, the teacher asked if the class knew the significance of December 7th. Our son raised his hand and was so happy to share his answer….‘that’s the day my baby brother was born!’

“Needless to say, the teacher explained that was probably something to remember in our family, but then he went on to explain the importance of remembering Pearl Harbor to the rest of the class!”

Finally, we would be remiss if we failed to mention a group of local students who will taking part in Sunday’s commemoration.

The Cameron County High School marching band will perform Sunday in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii. The band will represent Pennsylvania at the event.