WASHINGTON CITY — It took the better part of a century and a keen-eyed shopper, but one piece of history reclaimed from the attack on Pearl Harbor has found a new home in Southern Utah.

A Washington County U.S. Coast Guard veteran recently was searching for rare military-issue firearms online when he stumbled upon a 48-star American flag listed for sale on a website from an Illinois business.

“Sometimes the search is more fun than the finding,” the man, who asked for anonymity, told St. George News. “When I saw that flag, knowing the history of the ship, I knew it had to come home.”

On Wednesday, the Washington City Council introduced city hall’s newest flag, which was donated on the condition that it remain there forever.

Printed on the flag is the inscription that it was found on the USS Utah, which sunk in Pearl Harbor attack by Japan’s military on Dec. 7, 1941, forcing the United States into World War II.

Upon receiving the flag, Washington City civic leaders chose to honor the occasion with an annual day of remembrance for the 58 soldiers and citizens who lost their lives on the USS Utah, a U.S. Navy dreadnought battleship.

Beginning this year on Dec. 7, Washington City will celebrate Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to honor “the forgotten ship.”

“Then, we petition our Legislature to enact a resolution in the 2024 Utah legislative session declaring the USS Utah’s legacy to be perpetually recognized in Pearl Harbor Day observances annually at the state level,” Washington City Councilman Kurt Ivie said.

Ivie read the history of the ship, which was constructed in 1911, and its ultimate demise after being struck by two Japanese torpedoes 82 years ago.

As the battleship began to flood, Chief Watertender Peter Tomich remained below decks, despite orders to evacuate, posthumously earning the Medal of Honor for his actions.

“Tomich was on duty in a boiler room,” according to the Naval History and Heritage Command website. “As Utah began to capsize, he remained below, securing the boilers and making certain that other men escaped — and so lost his life.”

Entombed within the wreck are the remains of Nancy Wagner who died two days after being born, the daughter of USS Utah Chief Yeoman Albert Thomas Dewitt Wagner. 

Wagner placed the child’s ashes into an urn with plans to spread them at sea on the ship’s next voyage. Due to the attack, he never got the chance.

“At 8:12 a.m., the USS Utah rolled over onto her side, while those crew members who had managed to escape swam to shore,” according to the National Park Service.

In total, 54 military officers and four civilians died that morning, although 461 survived due to Tomich’s actions, with four rescued from the wreckage after sinking.

“I have reached out to the (Senate) majority leader and Sen. Vickers and he’s fully on board,” Rep. Joseph Elison told those in attendance. “So we will be co-sponsoring a resolution this next legislative session to have this event be part of the Utah celebration in December, as well as encouragement of other cities and to participate in the community.”

Rep. Colin Jack and the Pine View High School JROTC joined the meeting to witness the patriotism and pride on display. Local World War II and Korean War veteran Clifton Spendlove spent time greeting each of them before the meeting officially began.

In an article previously published St. George News, when asked what he did during World War II, Spendlove stated that he supported the war in non-active fighting roles.

“People always ask me that same question,” Spendlove said. “They also ask me if I killed anybody. I don’t know for sure, but I might have killed a few — I was the company cook.”

Before the attack, the USS Utah was moored on the opposite side of the island, away from more commonly known sunken Navy ships in history, such as the USS Arizona, where 1,177 died in the attack, and the USS Oklahoma, where 429 died. The USS Utah was attacked due to pilot error by a Japanese aviator who mistook the ship for an aircraft carrier.

Although there is an official USS Utah Memorial at the site of the sunken ship in Hawaii, the site is currently not accessible to the public, the NPS website states.

“Washington City will conduct a ceremony to begin at 8:01 a.m. on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to honor the lives lost on the USS Utah,” said Washington City Mayor Kress Staheli. “So that the ship and her sailors are forgotten no more.”

USS Utah veterans who survived the attack can elect to have their ashes interred at the shipwreck site, or a family member can request to do so. Since being allowed, 3 families have taken the Navy up on the offer, the NPS website noted.

On June 24, 1912, the 48-star American flag was issued in the United States with the addition of New Mexico and Arizona to the union. That flag was the norm through two World Wars until January 3, 1959, when the addition of Alaska prompted a 49-star American flag to be issued.

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