PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Dozens of survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Monday solemnly remembered those who died in the aerial assault 68 years ago.

About 50 survivors on Monday assembled at a pier overlooking the spot where the USS Arizona sank, killing 1,177 people. Almost 1,000 of those killed are still entombed on the battleship.

When the two hour long sneak attack by the Empire of Japan was over more than 2,400 U.S. servicemen were killed and nearly 1,300 wounded.

Flags will fly at half-staff throughout the state in honor of those who died during their service on that day.

The survivors were joined by 2,000 servicemen and women and the general public.

Sterling Cale, 88, said chills ran down his back as he remembered picking up wounded sailors and bodies from the water 68 years ago.

This year's annual observance comes as U.S. troops are risking their lives in the more recent conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan. It also comes shortly after President Barack Obama decided to send another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.