OLYMPIA, Wash. — On Saturday, Dec. 7, Gov. Jay Inslee directed all Washington state and United States flags to be lowered to half-staff at all state agency facilities in observance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Inslee has directed that flags remain at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Dec. 7 in honor of those who were killed or injured during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Governor Inslee has also stated agencies can lower flags at the close of business on Friday, Dec. 6, as long as they remain at half-staff until the close of business or sunset on Dec. 7. Alternatively, flags may remain lowered through the morning of Monday, Dec. 9.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day was established by Congress in 1994 to commemorate the sacrifices made by the men and women who served during the attack that led the United States into World War II.
Sept. 1, 1939, is regarded by many as the start of World War II when Germany invaded Poland. Germany then took control of much of western Europe.
Prior to the attack, the United States had been providing supplies and other assistance to Allied forces since September 1940.
On Dec. 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched an air raid on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing more than 2,300 Americans. On Dec. 8, 1941, the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Imperial Japan a day after the attack.
The U.S. declared war on Germany and Italy on Dec. 11, 1941 - Italy would surrender to the Allies in 1943.
The war against Germany lasted until May 8, 1945, when Germany surrendered.
Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, after the U.S. dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan.
Deaths directly related to the war are estimated to be at least 50 million.