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Pearl Harbor survivors unveil memorial art

OKLAHOMA CITY — A painting of the USS Oklahoma Memorial was unveiled Wednesday at the state Capitol by two survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that sank the battleship, killing 429 sailors and Marines on Dec. 7, 1941.

Paul Goodyear, 90, of Casa Grande, Ariz., and Ed Vezey, 88, of Center, Colo., said they are grateful for the painting and the memorial, which they worked hard to make a reality.

“It was a very emotional event for all of us,” said Vezey. “We worked so hard for so long, but it wasn’t about the survivors or anyone else — it was always about the boys who never made it and their families.”

Goodyear and Vezey are shown in the painting by Oklahoma City artist Christopher Nick.

Also shown are members of the Claremore High School ROTC, who took part in the dedication of the memorial in Honolulu.

“It took us a long time to make this happen, but we succeeded and I am very grateful to everyone here in Oklahoma who helped make sure that those young men will not be forgotten,” Goodyear said.

State Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, worked with survivors to secure the permanent memorial.

Reynolds said the memorial fulfills a dream of survivors.

“Oklahomans donated their time and resources to help this happen, and now this historic event will be forever remembered in this painting,” he said.