Last month, the United States came together to celebrate its military through beautiful Veterans Day ceremonies, across the nation. This Friday is another important day in the history of our armed forces.

On that day, Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire attacked the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island, Hawaii, sending the U.S. into World War II. More than 2,400 Americans lost their lives in that attack, prompting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to state that it would be a “day that would live in infamy.”

Those brave men and women fought against perhaps the greatest evil that the world has ever known, stopping the cruel genocide of the Holocaust and defeating the oppressive regime of the Third Reich. Without their sacrifices and efforts, there is no doubt that the world would be a much different place today.

According to the World War II Veterans Museum in New Orleans, La., it is believed there will be no World War II veterans still alive, by the year 2036. In addition, a World War II veteran dies every 90 seconds. We must never forget the work of these brave men and women, and we should always thank them for their service.