Clermont Commissioners Proclaim Pearl Harbor Remembrance Week

“As Americans who enjoy the blessings of living in a free nation today, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who defended our nation on that day in 1941,” said BCC President Ed Humphrey, reading the proclamation.  “We are grateful for all who have answered duty’s call in defense of our nation.”   On December 7, in conjunction with a declaration issued by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, all flags on county government buildings will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset.

86-year-old Whitt, who was stationed on the USS San Francisco, recalls the shock of that December day in 1941.  “There was so much noise,” he recalled.  “There was no time to be afraid, we just grabbed our rifles and went up to the ship’s top deck and opened fire on the Japanese attackers.  They were right on top of us.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the horrors I saw that day; those of us who were there have never been the same since.”

During the BCC session on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, the Board also presented Bill Engeman and Bill Miller with a certificate of appreciation for their work in making the Matt Maupin Pavilion at Eastfork State Park a reality.

Pictured above: Commissioner Scott Croswell, Bill Engeman (Maupin Pavilion), Bill Miller (Maupin Pavilion), Joe Whitt, Don Chandler (American Legion Post 450), Ken Ellis (Post 773), Commissioner Ed Humphrey, Bob Derr (Post 773), John Rolke (Post 773), Ralph Shepherd (Post 550), and Commissioner Bob Proud.