A ceremony to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor will be Wednesday in Lehighton.

The Lehighton United Veterans Organization will meet at 12:48 p.m. (7:48 p.m. Pacific Time) at the Lehighton Veterans Memorial Park.

Lehighton UVO Commander Kevin “Spike” Long said that the ceremony will be “more of a smaller remembrance service this year.”

“Every five years we usually go do a bigger one, but we remember every year, because we can never forget,” Long said. “It’s history that we all never want to happen and repeat again.

Last year, Retired Capt. Neil C. Stubits, U.S. Navy Submarine Service, served as main speaker.

“It’s an important day, a part of history,” Long said. “History isn’t always something that’s going to be pretty, but (it’s) important to know what happened and where we went from there.”

Long stressed the significance of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and why it’s important to never forget.

“We just vowed that we will never forget, and we’ll always remember their sacrifice of all those that gave their lives that day and then World War II, and our country stood up and defended our freedom. We always want to remember that sacrifice.”