Congress reflects on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor

{mosads}Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are tweeting about Pearl Harbor on the 71st anniversary of the day Japan attacked the Navy base in Hawaii.

Congress is marking the date by paying tribute to members of the military and current veterans as well as those in the past, with a special emphasis on “the greatest generation,” a term coined by Tom Brokaw. Reps. Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.) and Bill Flores (R-Texas) and Sen. Toomey (R-Pa.) all used the term in their tweets.

71 years ago, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Let us remember the fallen & give thanks to the Greatest Generation for defending our freedom.

— Rep. Bill Flores (@RepBillFlores) December 7, 2012

71 years ago, Pearl Harbor was attacked. We honor the survivors and members of the #GreatestGeneration today and always!

— Rep. Hansen Clarke (@RepHansenClarke) December 7, 2012

Please take time to remember #PearlHarbor today and thank a WW II veteran for their service #GreatestGeneration

— Senator Pat Toomey (@SenToomey) December 7, 2012

Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.) also promoted the Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit group that funds trips for World War 2 veterans to see the World War 2 Memorial in Washington, D.C. A documentary about the program recently screened in the Capitol.

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) noted an Honor Flight visit in another tweet.

It’s important that we honor the heroes from that “greatest generation,” and pass along their story to young people today.

— Rep. Martha Roby(@RepMarthaRoby) December 7, 2012

One amazing program that does both is the Honor Flight network, which provides WWII vets trips to see the WWII monument built in their honor

— Rep. Martha Roby(@RepMarthaRoby) December 7, 2012

WWII #HonorFlight vets recently visited the @uscapitol. That & more in our Nov. 2012 photos j.mp/YKuOqD #PearlHarborDay

— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) December 7, 2012

Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) thought of her father, a veteran, and Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) had her home state on her mind.

On this Pearl Harbor Day, I am thinking of my father and all of those who have served on behalf of our nation.

— Niki Tsongas (@nikiinthehouse) December 7, 2012

We recognize those at Pearl Harbor and Hawaii’s families as they came together during great conflict and uncertainty 1.usa.gov/VPiL5M

— Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) December 7, 2012

President Obama posted a photo from his visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii last year along with his official presidential proclamation marking the date.

Proclamation: Natl Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2012: on.wh.gov/ItcmEBb Pic: President Obama @ Pearl Harbor in 2011: twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…

— The White House (@whitehouse) December 7, 2012

— Alicia Cohn contributed.

Updated at 3:03 p.m.