Take 240 Seconds to Watch This Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony

Members of Nashua VFW #483 assembled at Bicentennial Park on Main Street Saturday for their annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony. 

After brief remarks by Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, two of Nashua's remaining World War II veterans, Louis Prince, 93, and Richard Mohrmann, 88, linked arms and walked to the bridge, where they dropped a wreath into the river in honor of all those who died at sea on Dec. 17, 1941.

In past years there have been four Nashua WWII veterans participating. Lozeau in her remarks remembered one of the four, Omer Cote, 91, who died Oct. 5, 2013.  Prince and Mohrmann said they were also missing Bob Madigan, who was not able to attend this year.

Prince said when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941 he had just returned home to Nashua after serving.

"I had been home for one year when Pearl Harbor came along, and I right away got notice to report for duty," Prince said. "It didn't bother me a damn bit. Somebody had to go. My brother Paul, Marcel and myself, we all served and we all came back safe."

Mohrmann said he was not able to join the Army until 1944.

"I was still at home and in high school when Pearl Harbor happened. It was a shock to hear," Mohrmann said. "But I wanted to go, and we were the first to land in Japan, after the peace treaty was signed. They welcomed us."

Prince said every Pearl Harbor Day he thinks about those who lost their lives "for no reason," and is grateful he can honor them, year after year, with a simple gesture of remembrance at the river.

"No, no, no – no bitter feelings," Prince said. "A job had to be done and we had to do it."