Today, as it has every day for the last 69 years, drops of oil will seep from the watery grave and float to the surface.

Almost like tears, the rusting, submerged hull of the USS Arizona continues to weep oil into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

At last count, the National Park Service estimated it was leaking between two and nine quarts each day.

It’s a painful, persistent reminder of one of our nation’s most savage, surprise attacks and one of our darkest hours.

The memories of Pearl Harbor and what it means to Americans should be as painful and personal today as they were nearly seven decades ago, but they aren’t.

Many Americans today relegate such things to the history books.

But Pearl Harbor is a power mark on the world’s time line.

Our nation mourned a savage attack on Dec. 7, 1941, one that would set into motion a chain of events that would change our nation and the world forever.

The attack steeled our will and determination to win what eventually became World War II — at all costs.

The people who lived and died fighting the evil powers during World War II were truly amazing people.

Their sacrifices should never be forgotten. Though sadly our nation is losing World War II veterans at an astonishing rate. Time and age are proving more formidable foes than the enemies of long ago.

We pause today, this the 69th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, to say “thank you” to all of the soldiers who died that day and for the ones who used the attack as motivation to never give up or surrender.

Let’s hope our gratitude for what those soldiers did for us is as certain as the oil drifting up in Pearl Harbor.