Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
U.S. Navy battleship USS West Virginia burns and sinks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii December 7, 1941.Reuters

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed every year on 7 December to honour those who lost their lives in the 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S.

As a tribute to the souls of Pearl Harbor attack, Americans participate in special services held at USS Arizona Memorial, a resting place of more than 2,400 Americans died on the USS Arizona (BB-39).

With just few hours left to mark the 73rd anniversary of Pearl Harbor, let us recollect the celebrity contributors, who played a vital role in building the memorial.

Ralph Edwards

Edwards was the first one to begin public fundraising efforts to build a memorial in Pearl Harbor. "This is Your Life" host organized a show on 3 December 1958 featuring Medal of Honor recipient Samuel Fuqua and Arizona crewmember.

Through the event, he managed to raise $95,000 but the amount was not enough to build memorial, since the sum set by the Pacific War Memorial Commission was $500,000, reported Mass Live.

Elvis Presley

Presley came two years after Edwards's show. When he got to know about the efforts of the Commission to raise funds for the memorial, he decided to do a benefit concert. On 25 March 1961, he took the stage on fire with his live performance and raised $54,000.

Tom Hanks

Hanks is popular for his support to various charitable organizations and the celeb has also contributed to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund.

Bill Gates

Gates has also contributed and helped the Commission to maintain the resting place of sailors and marines killed in Pearl Harbor.

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