Sailors from the Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit FIVE (NEPMU-5) participated in a wreath remembrance ceremony aboard the USS Midway commemorating the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7. The USS Midway was commissioned a week after the end of World War II (WWII) in Sept. 1945, and was decommissioned in 1992. The ship is currently used as a museum and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Diego. First class petty officers from NEPMU-5 laid wreaths during the ceremony as part of the CPO 365 program highlighting Navy heritage and pride. The wreaths were dedicated to Pearl Harbor and the "Greatest Generation." An invocation was given by Pastor David Plank followed by a two-bell ceremony where the names of the Pearl Harbor survivors who had passed away in the last year were read. The two-bell ceremony was performed by Chief Petty Officer Darnelle Mason and Petty Officer 1st Class Hayashi Morris of NEPMU-5. Mason gave a speech discussing a modern take on yesterday's Navy and how the attack on Pearl Harbor not only shaped the United States Navy but America as well. "I am still beaming with pride and motivation after meeting the four veterans who attended the ceremony and truly represented the Greatest Generation," said Mason. "It was a really proud moment for me and not one I will forget." "This event means so much to me because it allows me to show my support and respect for the survivors who fought for our freedoms that we have today," Petty Officer Byron Hewitt, NEPMU-5. "Having been a part of Operation Enduring Freedom their survival and dedication is inspirational and makes me proud to serve and fight for our country." Andrea Compton, superintendent of Cabrillo National Monument also spoke at the event. "Military history is a major part of the Cabrillo National Monument story and we use that history to help inform our visitors about our current world," said Compton." The commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor holds a special place in our story because we have over 21 fortifications from WWI and WWII at Cabrillo National Monument." The crew of the future USS John Finn (DDG 113) was also in attendance at the event. "John Finn was a medal of honor recipient from World War II for machine gunning Japanese planes during the attack on Pearl Harbor, so we felt it was important to take the time to stand down and bring our crew to remember the 75th anniversary of the sacrifices made and valor displayed that day," said Chief Petty Officer Andrew Martzall, USS John Finn. "It's was great to see and a proud moment that NEPMU-5 Sailors were able to support in remembering such a tragic event of our Naval history that affected many lives," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Leonardo Carbonel, NEPMU-5 senior enlisted leader. "I believe the reward that these Sailors received for helping out is the fact they were able to talk and interact to the brave Sailors that stood face to face with enemy and defended our great nation during the Pearl Harbor attack, I believe it brought such an overwhelming pride to all Sailors that were there." For more information on NEPMU-5, go to www.nepmu5.med.navy.mil.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/.