A small group of veterans and family gathered at the Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery on Saturday in honor of Pearly Harbor Remembrance Day.
Saturday marked the 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was an especially significant day in Ardmore because one of its own sons, the man for whom the cemetery is named, perished in attack.
State Cemetery Administrator Jamee Smith welcomed attendees.
“Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is a solemn occasion to reflect on the courage, sacrifice and resilience displayed in the face of unimaginable adversity,” Smith said. “Today we pay tribute not only to the servicemembers and civilians who endured the attack, but specifically to Seaman First Class Billy Turner who bravely answered the call of duty while serving on the USS Oklahoma, paying the ultimate price for our freedom.”
Turner was among the 429 sailors and marines who were killed aboard the Oklahoma that fateful morning. His remains were unidentified for over 80 years until advances in DNA technology allowed the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to make a positive identification.
Turner was the first veteran buried in the cemetery which bears his name.
The ceremony was full of symbolism and was timed to last exactly 12 minutes, the amount of time it took the Oklahoma to capsize from the time the first torpedo hit. Taps played at 12:08 p.m., or 8:08 a.m. in Hawaii, the moment the Oklahoma met its fate.
Other important symbolism came in the form of leis, specially shipped in from Hawaii in honor of the occasion, placed on Turner’s grave. In Hawaiian culture, leis are a symbol of affection, love, respect and honor.
Turner’s nephew, Bill Crowell, along with his family were in attendance. He was asked to place a lei on his uncle’s grave.
Crowell said he was extremely grateful for the event and all of the respect shown to his uncle. He had not known much about Turner until his remains were identified.
“When they finally identified him, they sent me a package of things,” Crowell said. “Between that and the Admiral (Rear Adm. Wesley Hull, NOAA, Ret.), that’s how I learned the most about Billy.
“My grandparents never talked about him. My mom, Billy’s sister, talked about him a little bit but not very often. I don’t know why”
Assistant Cemetery Administrator Deanna Shaw said the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony was intentional kept small this year. However, she hopes to see it continue and grow in the future.
For anyone wanting to show their appreciation for the veterans at Seaman First Class Billy Turner Veterans Cemetery, Wreaths Across America will be hosting a ceremony and wreath laying at noon on Saturday.
