I  recently had the opportunity to get together with members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

There are six survivors who are still active in the group, but even they acknowledge they will have to turn the reins over to younger veterans — and by younger they mean those in their 70s and 80s — in order for the group to continue.

Our WWII veterans are a rapidly disappearing treasure. Statistics show we are losing them at a rate of nearly 1,000 per day.

The men and women of that era, as in every other, fought hard for victory with the tools available. Was it the drama of the attack on Pearl Harbor or the Battle of Midway that make this conflict stand out? Surely the acts of heroism that occurred during WWII also occurred in WWI, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.  We have no shortage of heroes.

The men of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association are happy to share their stories, but they are always quick to remind us of what America lost in that battle — their shipmates and fellow sailors whose contributions over the course of their lifetimes, had they survived, were never realized.

Maybe it’s because they came through that experience alive that they seem to have such a zest for life, even into their 80s and 90s.

Or maybe what sets them apart is the simple fact they are the next generation of heroes to whom we will have to say goodbye to all too soon.

This Veterans Day, I thank ALL of our veterans and active duty service members for their sacrifices on our behalf. If you see a WWII veteran, take extra time to thank them for their service. It may be your only opportunity to visit with a national treasure — at least until the next generation takes hold of the torch.

– Kathy Reed