Four Pearl Harbor survivors and four generations of their descendants gathered for a picnic Saturday to honor the veterans and the fallen.
Withstanding rain, 35 people attended the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors event, eating steaks and hot dogs and playing rounds of bingo at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
"Our grandchildren look forward to this all year long," said Viola Kesler, wife of survivor Marion Kesler.
Also honored were Ken Potts, Lawrence W. Ray Smethurst and Ernal Underwood.
Each year, the organization holds the event with the primary goal of bringing together the survivors and their families, said Cathy Kitterman, state chairman of the group.
"It's a great afternoon to get all of the families together," Kitterman said. "We try and keep (the survivors) happy and keep things going for them. We want everyone to remember we still have our guys."
The picnic is also an occasion to make younger generations aware of the sacrifices the men made.
"We need these picnics," said Smethurst, a survivor from the USS San Francisco. "They give us a chance to speak to the kids about Pearl Harbor."
Smethurst worked on an oil boat in Pearl Harbor and went on to fight in 17 major battles in the Pacific Ocean after the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.
He and the other survivors meet at a Red Lobster in Murray each month to "make sure everyone's still kicking," Smethurst said.
"We're all getting pretty old," he said.
But the annual picnic is the highlight of the year.
"I feel blessed to still be here," Smethurst said.
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