PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — As crew members lined the edge of the Navy guided-missile destroyer, the ship's whistle sounded. It was 7:55 a.m., the exact time the Japanese began bombing Pearl Harbor 71 years earlier.

Friday's moment of silence was part of the commemoration that drew some 2,000 people to Pearl Harbor — and many more to events around the country — to mark the anniversary of the surprise attack that killed thousands of people and launched the United States into World War II.

Among them were about 30 survivors, many using walkers and canes.

Edwin Schuler, of San Jose, Calif., said he remembered going up to the bridge of his ship, the USS Phoenix, to read a book on a bright, sunny Sunday morning in 1941 when he saw planes dropping bombs.

"I thought: 'Whoa, they're using big practice bombs.' I didn't know," said Schuler, 91.

Schuler said he's returned for the annual ceremony about 30 times because it's important to spread the message of remembering Pearl Harbor.

Ewalt Shatz, 89, said returning to Pearl Harbor "keeps the spirit going, the remembering of what can happen."

Shatz, who lives in Riverside, Calif., was on board the USS Patterson. His more experienced shipmates were down below putting a boiler back together so Shatz found himself manning a 50-caliber machine gun for the first time. The Navy credited him with shooting a Japanese plane.

"That was some good shooting," said U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Cecil Haney who recounted Shatz' experience in the keynote address. "Thank you for your courage and tenacity — our nation is truly grateful."

The start of the moment of silence was sounded by the USS Michael Murphy, a recently christened ship named after a Pearl Harbor-based Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan.

The guided-missile destroyer floated in the harbor where the USS Arizona and USS Utah sank in the attack and still lie. Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 fighter jets flew overhead in a special "missing man" formation to break the silence.

"Let us remember that this is where it all began. Let us remember that the arc of history was bent at this place 71 years ago today and a generation of young men and women reached deep and rose up to lead our nation to victory," Rhea Suh, Interior Department assistant secretary, told the crowd. "Let us remember and be forever grateful for all of their sacrifices." Continued...