Number of Pearl Harbor survivors at annual event shrinks

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Each year fewer and fewer Pearl Harbor survivors are living to attend events like one held each year in Lexington.

Around noon Monday, members of Lexington’s Oleika Shrine Temple started to fill the Southland Drive location for an event held each year since the 80’s.

Two guests seem to get more attention than others.

98-year-old Vaughn Drake lives in Lexington. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacks came and went in about three hours time.

“We thought they were the Army Air Corp, we didn’t realize they were the Japanese,” said Drake, recalling the events. “We didn’t realize what was going on until we saw the big explosion on the air base.”

Drake wasn’t alone this year.

99-year-old David Walker, originally from Michigan, now lives in Lexington.

“They were describing what was happening, and I just couldn’t believe it,” said Walker, remembering when he was first informed of what was happening.

Many were missing a face at this years luncheon though. 96-year-old Herman Horn, who ABC 36 reported about on Monday, wasn’t feeling well enough to leave his home at Thomson-Hood Veterans Center.

Chairman for the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Association, Don Dixon knows the years are numbered that survivors will be in attendance at the event but he says it’s one that’ll never die out.