Sixty years ago today, the world was shocked to discover that Japanese planes flew to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and were attacking our naval fleet. That unprovoked sneak attack plunged this country into World War II – and cost the lives of 2,390 Americans. And now, as we pause to remember those lost in the worst sneak attack in the 20th Century – we do so just shy of three months after the worst sneak attack of the 21st Century – and one that eerily mirrors Pearl Harbor in many ways.

On December 7, 1941, this country was attacked out of nowhere when the Japanese sent their planes to bomb the naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. As a result of the attack, we lost a majority of our Pacific fleet, we lost buildings – and we lost people. When the attack was over, the United States was forced to go to war to defend itself – and retaliate against those who chose to attack us. To me, that scenario is frighteningly similar to the events of September 11, 2001. On that day – which to me will live in infamy as much as the day that Pearl harbor was attacked – the United States was attacked out of nowhere when terrorists hijacked our own planes and used them to destroy the World Trade Center and a part of the Pentagon. As a result of the attack, we lost planes, we lost buildings – and we lost people – almost four thousand people. And when the attack was over, the United States was forced to go to war to defend itself – and retaliate against those who chose to attack us.

As someone who was born in 1972, I was never able to really understand what it was like for those who survived Pearl Harbor. I would always watch people at the remembrance ceremonies and hear their stories of how they ran for their lives – and watched their friends die during the attack – but I could never grasp what it was like to be in the middle of all that chaos, destruction – and death – until now.

Now I know exactly how those survivors felt that day – because on September 11th – I experienced the same thing. Like those who survived Pearl Harbor, I was right in the middle of a sneak attack and watched buildings explode, property destroyed – and people die. I also lost a friend and almost lost my life. So now I can unfortunately say that I know precisely how they feel.

So as we mark the sixtieth anniversary of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor and pause to remember those who lost their lives sixty years ago today – we should also remember those who lost their lives just eighty-seven days ago as well.

At the end of World War II – the United States emerged victorious and eliminated it’s enemies. I have a feeling that that will become one more way that these two incidents will become similar – because just as we won the war back then – we will win this war too.