A few dozen military veterans, auxiliary members and sleepy school students assembled at the Magic City Post 24 American Legion home in Bogalusa at 7 a.m. Friday to recognize the anniversary of what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy.”

Roosevelt made the speech that included that famous phrase the day after the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Less than an hour later, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan and officially brought the U.S. into World War II.

On Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 Post 24 hosted a breakfast, which was preceded by a short ceremony of remembrance.

Chaplain Robert Belknap, a veteran himself, said, “This is a time we need to remember … those who perished defending our nation … the shock of the unprovoked attack, and also the resolve” of the American response.