RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The annual Commonwealth's Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony paid tribute to U.S. history on Sunday, honoring thousands of Americans killed during the Pearl Harbor attack. Held in partnership with the Navy League Richmond, the ceremony took place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at th e Virginia War Memorial. The event paid respect to the nearly 4,000 Americans who died on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japan launched a military strike on the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii. The attack led to the U.S. declaring war on Japan and the Axis Powers, marking the country's entry into World War II. (Ethan Thompson/8News)(Ethan Thompson/8News)(Ethan Thompson/8News)(Ethan Thompson/8News)(Ethan Thompson/8News) Navy League Richmond Council President Vaughan Dize said the event also helped "bring back the camaraderie" among veterans. As of this year, there are currently 11 Pearl Harbor veterans still alive, Dize said. "It was an unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor," Dize said. "We've got to remember this event so it won't happen again in the future." As part of the ceremony, a "roll call" of all the Virginians who lost their lives during the attack also took place. Across the Commonwealth, flags outside government buildings were lowered Sunday from sunrise to sunset in memory and respect of the ones who died. ...read more read less