Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2026
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7, honors the 2,403 Americans killed in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Flags fly at half-staff, but it is not a public holiday — post offices, banks, schools and businesses stay open.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Day of week | Days away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 7, 2026 | Monday | 37 days |
| 2027 | December 7, 2027 | Tuesday | 402 days |
Dates computed from the governing statutes and last verified October 3, 2026. Years beyond officially published schedules are projected from the rule that sets the date.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day; flags fly at half-staff. Not a public holiday.
A remembrance, not a day off
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is a congresionally designated observance, not a federal or state holiday. Congress established it on August 23, 1994, through Public Law 103-308, and the designation is codified in Title 36 of the United States Code, which asks the president to issue an annual proclamation calling on Americans to observe the day and directing that the flag be flown at half-staff until sunset on all federal buildings, homes and ships. Because it is an observance, nothing closes: mail is delivered, banks and markets keep normal hours, government offices operate and schools hold classes, often with lessons about the Second World War.
Why December 7
The date marks the morning of December 7, 1941, when aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu - the first wave struck at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, and in under two hours the attack killed 2,403 American service members and civilians and wounded more than 1,100 others. The batleship USS Arizona exploded and sank with 1,177 of her crew, nearly half the day's dead, and the USS Oklahoma capszied. The next day President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war, calling December 7 a date which will live in infmay, and the United States entered World War II.
How the observance was created
For decades after the war, the anniversary was marked by veterans' groups and by presidential proclamations issued year to year. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, founded in 1958, pressed for a permanent national observance as the survivors aged. Congress responded in 1994 with the joint resolution designating every December 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and presidents of both parties have proclaimed it annually since, the day is sometimes called Pearl Harbor Day, and it is distinct from Veterans Day and Memorial Day: it honors a specific event and its casualties rather than all veterans or all war dead. A handful of states also recognize the date in statute as a day of observance, with no closures.
How December 7 is observed
The central ceremony is held at Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii, above the sunken Arizona, where survivors, veterans, military leaders and visitors gather each year. A moment of silence is observed at 7:55 a.m., the minute the attack began, often broken by a missing-man flyover, and Navy vessels render honors as they pass the memorial. Across the mainland, naval bases, museums and veterans' organizations hold wreath-layings, bell tollings and educational programs, and the flag flies at half-staff from the White House to post offices. With the wartime generation nearly gone, remembrance has shifted toward preservation: oral-history projects, school programs and the interment of Arizona survivors' ashes aboard their old ship by Navy divers.
Practical notes for the day
- Closures: none; it is a normal business and school day nationwide.
- Flags: half-staff until sunset by presidential proclamation.
- Hawaii: expect heavy visitor traffic and road closures near Pearl Harbor for ceremonies.
- Etiquette: a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time honors the moment the attack began.
What's open and closed on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Open | Not a federal holiday; regular hours and mail delivery, with flags at half-staff. |
| Banks | Open | Normal Federal Reserve business day. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Full trading session. |
| Federal offices | Open | Open nationwide; flags lowered to half-staff until sunset. |
| State and local government | Open | Normal operations in every state. |
| Public schools | Open | In session; many mark the anniversary in class. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Regular hours during the holiday shopping season. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Regular hours. |
Quick facts
- Date rule
- December 7 every year, the anniversary of the 1941 attack
- Legal status
- National observance (Public Law 103-308); not a public holiday
- Designated by Congress
- 1994; presidential proclamations issued annually
- Honors
- The 2,403 Americans killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
- Flag custom
- U.S. flag flown at half-staff until sunset
- Main ceremony
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Hawaii, with a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m.
- Also known as
- National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day FAQ
Is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day a federal holiday?
No. December 7 is a national observance, not a holiday. Federal offices, post offices, banks, schools and the stock market all operate on their normal schedules, and workers do not get the day off.
What happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941?
Japanese naval aircraft attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, beginning at 7:55 a.m. local time. The attack killed 2,403 Americans, sank or damaged numerous ships including the USS Arizona, and brought the United States into World War II the next day.
Why are flags at half-staff on December 7?
Federal law directs the president to proclaim National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day each year and to call for the flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset on federal buildings, homes and ships in honor of those who died in the attack.
How many people died in the Pearl Harbor attack?
According to the National Park Service, 2,403 American service members and civilians were killed and well over a thousand were wounded. The battleship USS Arizona alone lost 1,177 crew members when it exploded and sank.
Is Pearl Harbor Day the same as Veterans Day?
No. Veterans Day, a federal holiday in November, honors all who have served in the armed forces. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day commemorates one event, the December 7, 1941 attack, and closes nothing.
Do schools close on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day?
No. Schools are in session on December 7, and many teachers use the anniversary for lessons on World War II. Some schools hold moments of silence or invite veterans to speak.
What does 'a date which will live in infamy' mean?
The phrase comes from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to Congress on December 8, 1941, asking for a declaration of war against Japan. It described the previous day's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and became one of the most famous lines in American oratory.
Where are Pearl Harbor ceremonies held?
The main ceremony takes place at Pearl Harbor National Memorial on Oahu, above the sunken USS Arizona, with a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time. Naval bases, museums and veterans' groups across the country hold their own wreath-layings and bell tollings.
Sources
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. Dates for years beyond published official schedules are projected from the governing rule.