Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum Hosts Pearl Harbor Remembrance Event — Public Invited to Register
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 4, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT
Kevin Olson
651-212-0573
LITTLE FALLS, MN — [Dec. 4, 2025] — The Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum will host a special online event on December 7 to commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and honor the Minnesotans whose courage shaped the early hours of World War II.
The program will also preview the Museum’s new Pearl Harbor theater and World War II exhibit gallery, opening next summer at Camp Ripley.
Executive Director Randal Dietrich will speak on the legacy of the USS Ward—manned largely by Minnesota reservists—which fired the first American shots of World War II. The gun that introduced America’s entry into World War II will be a central exhibit.
Dietrich states: “The USS Ward, crewed largely by Minnesota reservists, fired the first American shots of World War II just hours before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Minnesotans were among the first to confront the dangers of a world at war, and remembering Pearl Harbor ensures that their courage and sacrifices are never forgotten.”
WHEN:
December 7
Time: 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Online – Registration required
WHO:
Open to the public, veterans, educators, media, and all who wish to honor the legacy of Pearl Harbor and Minnesota’s role in WWII.
ABOUT THE MINNESOTA MILITARY & VETERANS MUSEUM:
The Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum preserves and shares the stories, artifacts, and history of Minnesotans who have served in all branches of the military. Located at Camp Ripley, the Museum documents the experiences of service members from the Civil War to today through exhibits, archives, and educational programs. A new expanded museum—featuring a Pearl Harbor theater and WWII gallery—opens next summer. Learn more at mnmilitarymuseum.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Olson
651-212-0573