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See the Photos of Veterans Returning to Pearl Harbor, 73 Years Later
U.S.S. Arizona survivor Louis Conter sits with other Pearl Harbor Survivors before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

See the Photos of Veterans Returning to Pearl Harbor, 73 Years Later

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (TheBlaze/AP) — Veterans who survived the Pearl Harbor attack gathered for the 73rd anniversary of the Japanese bombing that launched the United States into World War II.

It was a clear, calm Sunday morning, just as it was a clear calm Sunday morning in 1941 when the Empire of Japan launched its surprise attack on the American fleet.

The U.S.S. Chung-Hoon performs a pass in review during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) The U.S.S. Chung-Hoon performs a pass in review during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

About 100 Pearl Harbor and World War II survivors are expected to attend Sunday's ceremony. Many of them arrived well before the sun came up.

U.S.S. Arizona survivor Louis Conter sits with other Pearl Harbor Survivors before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) U.S.S. Arizona survivor Louis Conter sits with other Pearl Harbor Survivors before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

This is Gilbert Meyer's 10th time attending the ceremony. But the 91-year-old USS Utah survivor says it's getting harder to travel to Hawaii from San Antonio, Texas.

Many of Meyer's comrades arrived with the help of canes, wheelchairs and motorized scooters. They were greeted with purple orchid lei.

Pearl Harbor survivor Delton E. Walling (center) speaks with Chief Petty Officer Rex Parmelee before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Pearl Harbor survivor Delton E. Walling (center) speaks with Chief Petty Officer Rex Parmelee before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Delton E. Walling is given an anchor pin by Chief Petty Officer Rex Parmelee before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Delton E. Walling is given an anchor pin by Chief Petty Officer Rex Parmelee before the start of a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The U.S.S. Chung-Hoon passes the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) The U.S.S. Chung-Hoon passes the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Southeast Texas Patriot Guard Riders hold flags that line the walkway leading to the deck of the Battleship Texas in La Porte, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in preparation for a memorial service for those that served and died during the attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo/The Courier, Kirk Sides) Southeast Texas Patriot Guard Riders hold flags that line the walkway leading to the deck of the Battleship Texas in La Porte, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in preparation for a memorial service for those that served and died during the attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo/The Courier, Kirk Sides)

A color guard is seen during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) A color guard is seen during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

A moment of silence was held at 7:55 a.m., the moment the bombing began in 1941.

U.S.S. Arizona survivor Louis Conter and other Pearl Harbor survivors salute the U.S.S. Chung-Hoon as it performs a pass in review during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor, marking the entry of the U.S. in World War II. More than 2,400 people were killed and thousands wounded, with dozens of Navy vessels either sunk or destroyed. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) U.S.S. Arizona survivor Louis Conter and other Pearl Harbor survivors salute the U.S.S. Chung-Hoon as it performs a pass in review during a memorial service for the 73rd anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl harbor on the island of Oahu at the Pacific National Monument on December 07, 2014 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Several thousand are expected to attend the public ceremony.

This story has been updated.

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