Veterans and a special civilian guests remembered Pearl Harbor during a patriotic pot luck lunch at the Senior Center last Friday.

“We thank you so much for coming,” said Darlene Adams, a member of the Senior Center staff.

She delivered a tearful welcome to a large attentive crowd of veterans from all branches of service and their families. “This day is for you,” she said.

While Pearl Harbor Day was the theme of the event, Adams said the idea was to thank the men and women of the military for all they have done for our country and our freedoms.

The afternoon included fellowship, the pledge, patriotic singing, a special guest speaker and a bounty of food. The other attraction was a table of photos from the war set up at the back of the banquet hall.

The photos started conversations and stirred up memories. The largest photo collection was supplied by Gilbert Nash who served in the military during WWII as a photographer.

Special guest speaker, Bennie Phillpott, attended the lunch with her family. She asked to speak about her memories of Pearl Harbor and the war.

“I am 103 years old, and I’ll be 104 in April,” she boasted proudly. Phillpott said she has trouble remembering yesterday, but remembers everything from her youth. She said she very clearly remembers every moment of the events surrounding the bombing of Pearl Harbor. When she spoke to the crowd, she recounted some of those events.

She also talked about how the U.S. fought back — the day they dropped the A-bomb.

“One thing I remember,” she said, “in the paper was a picture of a little Japanese girl, about seven or eight years old, running down the street with her clothes on fire. I’ll always remember that.”

The bombing of Pearl Harbor occurred on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941.