The program itself may have been brief, but truer words may have never been spoken.

A sparse crowd attended the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor Wednesday afternoon at the Lehighton Veterans Memorial Park.

The Lehighton United Veterans Organization, as it does each year, met at 12:48 p.m. (7:48 p.m. Pacific time) to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Lehighton UVO Commander Kevin “Spike” Long thanked the few that attended, and then began the event with a rendition of the National Anthem, followed by a prayer.

Long noted that it was 81 years ago today when the attack occurred.

“We don’t want history to repeat itself,” Long said. “We learn from history.”

Long said it was the fateful event of the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought our country into World War II.

“It’s a time of reflection,” he said. “Brief words to explain the attack and what happened on that day.”

Long noted how 60 of Lehighton’s fine young men gave of their lives while serving during World War II so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have today.

“We’ll never forget; we always remember,” he said. “We keep it close.”

Long said after the ceremony he wishes there would have been more people in attendance.

“My hope is they thought about this day,” he said. “We just never want to forget the sacrifices made on that day.”

Long said it’s imperative to understand our country’s history.

“History is what we learn from,” he said. “It’s the whole fiber of what makes us a country.”

There was also a wreath laying, dedication of services, moment of silence, and military honors at the end of the program.