Veterans honored at Santa Barbara Airport 75 years after Pearl Harbor attack

Today marks 75 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, people gathered at the Santa Barbara Airport to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremony was a solemn one. About 150 people were there to remember the men and women who were killed that fateful day.

Memories of a scary time in United States history come flooding back every December 7th for Marine Corps veteran Sophia Meznarich.

“Everybody wanted to do their part, it was just such a frightening situation, it was hard to believe,” Meznarich said.

Meznarich, who was affectionately known as “Rusty” in the military, is a 93-year-old WW2 veteran. She was stationed in Santa Barbara.

I was in charge of the tool room, issuing the tools and sheet metal and hydraulic tubing,” Meznarich said.

Meznarich says ceremonies like this one honoring nearly 2500 Americans who were killed that day, are important – especially for the younger generations.

“To realize how important it is to be in love with our country and do everything we can to keep our freedoms,” Meznarich said.

There was a couple here in attendence named George and Ruby Glass, they were married 74 years ago in Paris, Texas. George joined the service a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor once he turned 18. The couple was stationed in Santa Barbara and have been here ever since.

“On December the 7th we were in church,” veteran George Glass said.

92-year-old Marine Corps veteran George Glass remembers the day of the Pearl Harbor attack, like it was yesterday.

“I’ve forgiven them in my heart, my religion teaches me to forgive,” Glass said.

Glass was in charge of getting supplies out to fighter squadrons.

“I hope and pray to God.. that it don’t happen again,” Glass said.