PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It took only an hour and five minutes on a Sunday morning nearly 70 years ago for Japanese planes to paralyze the Pacific fleet, dropping bombs on Pearl Harbor marking the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II.

On the city’s North Shore there are tributes to those for fought in Korea and Vietnam, but nothing for the men and women of WWII.

For the past three years, WWII veterans in southwestern Pennsylvania have planned to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial on the North Shore.

They’ve had to cancel the groundbreaking every year and this year is no different.

“Enough frustration, but without a doubt we cannot move ahead until we have the finances secured,” Howard Pfeifer, a memorial committee member, said.

The state has committed $2 million to the project, but an additional $2 million has had to be raised locally.

They still need about $250,000 for construction cost and $500,000 to cover an endowment for future maintenance of the memorial that was stipulated by the city and county.

“And they’re pretty strict about that,” Pfeifer said. “They want to make sure that that’s in place before you build anything.”

This “greatest generation” has always paid its bills and will push on.

On December 7, they will gather on the proposed memorial site to remember and hopefully raise awareness of this project so dear to their hearts.

“I think what was accomplished was something worthwhile so I think about the people and know you just have to do something.”

Donations can be made to the Southwestern PA WWII Memorial.

RELATED LINKS 　
Southwestern PA WWII Memorial
Mail-in Donation Form (PDF)
Make an Online Donation (PayPal)